Positive Illusions of Social Competence in Girls with and Without ADHD

Abstract

We compared social self-competence ratings in 9-12 year old girls with (n = 42) versus without (n = 40) ADHD, relative to ratings of the girls' social competence made by mothers, teachers, and blind raters during a social laboratory task. Relative to scores from mothers, teachers, and the lab-task, girls with ADHD over-estimated their competence significantly more than control girls. Over-estimates were greater for girls with ADHD who also had heightened oppositional-defiant symptoms, or lower depressive symptoms. Over-estimates were positively related to a socially desirable reporting bias for girls with ADHD, but not for control girls, suggesting that girls with ADHD attempt to present themselves in an unduly positive, self-protective light. For girls with ADHD, over-estimates also were positively related to maladjustment and negatively related to adjustment. However, for girls without ADHD, over-estimates were positively related to adjustment. Overall, over-estimates of competence function differently in girls with and without ADHD.

Discrepancies in Perceptions of Close Relationships of Young Adolescents: A Risk for Psychopathology?

“…Negatively-biased perceptions of the self and self-other relationships of children and adolescents, relative to the reports of others, have been associated with depression (e.g., Beck 1967;Cole et al 1998;Ekornås et al 2011;Hoffman et al 2000;Joiner et al 2006;Kistner et al 2006;Whitton et al 2008), whereas overly-positive perceptions have been associated with aggression (e.g., David and Kistner 2000;Hoza et al 2010;Ohan and Johnston 2011;Owens et al 2007;Scholtens et al 2012). However, in comparison to research J Youth Adolescence on discrepant perceptions of child symptoms, there has been relatively little research on biased self-other perceptions in the social domain (e.g., perceptions of social acceptance), whereas research on biased perceptions of dyadic relationships has been virtually absent.…”

“…A self-enhancement bias has often been observed among aggressive children and children with ADHD (David and Kistner 2000;Hoza et al 2010;Ohan and Johnston 2011;Owens et al 2007;Scholtens et al 2012; but for an exception, see Ekornås et al 2011). One explanation for a self-enhancement bias is that idealized views of the self and self-other relationships protect these children against negative emotions associated with social failure and frequent disconfirmation of the self, due to low competencies or aggressive coping styles (Hoza et al 2010;Ohan and Johnston 2011;Hughes et al 1997). Baumeister et al (1996) have posited that inflated perceptions and feelings of superiority are a cause of aggression and violence.…”

A Review of Peer Relationships and Friendships in Youth With ADHD

“…In fact, many children with ADHD tend to overestimate their social competence, which has been demonstrated when comparing self-reports with parent and teacher reports (Heiman, 2005;Hoza et al, 2004, Hoza, Pelham, Dobbs, Owens, & Pillow, 2002Ohan & Johnston, 2011). This phenomenon is known as positive illusory bias, which has been defined as a child's overestimation of his or her social competence in relation to his or her actual social competence (Ohan & Johnston, 2011). Hoza and colleagues (2002) examined positive illusory bias in boys with and without ADHD.…”

Does a Positive Illusory Bias Mediate the Moderating Effect of Achievement Orientation on Response to Exclusion in Boys with ADHD?

“…Specifically, boys' greater ADHD symptom severity was expected to be associated with less social desirability, which would explain their greater positive illusory biases. Higher ADHD severity scores were negatively correlated with social desirability, as found in previous research (Ohan & Johnston, 2011). There was no indirect effect on positive illusory bias, however; thus, neither hypothesis was supported.…”