Inattentive behavior in childhood: Epidemiology and implications for development

Poor concentration is a relatively common childhood problem. The current No rth American psychiatric diagnostic classification system (Diagnostic and S tatistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition; DSM-N), American Psy chological Association, 1994) differentiates children whose problems are di stinguished primarily by symptoms of inattention (ADHD-I) from those whose difficulties are characterized by overactive, impulsive behavior by providi ng various subtypes within a broad diagnostic category. Yet, comparatively little is known about children who exhibit purely inattentive behavior. Thi s study aims to redress this issue by using a large, community-based, epide miological sample of 7-year-old children to compare the developmental funct ioning social, and environmental backgrounds of children with pure inattent ive behavior to that of children with pure overactive behavior and combined problems of inattentive and overactive behavior. Five hypotheses, centered on the validity of distinguishing inattentive behavior from overactivity, are tested. Children with pure inattentive behavior were more likely to hav e general cognitive delays, particularly in the area of language developmen t, and were more likely to come from a family in which the father was of lo w occupational status. The results are discussed in relation to the implica tions for research and the identification of needs and intervention with ch ildren who exhibit pure inattentive behavior.