Tobacco use and self-esteem in adolescents with and without Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD): proposals for better prevention

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly-diagnosed neurodevelopmental
disorder in childhood. In Spain prevalence rates fluctuate between 4% and 7%.
Comorbidity between ADHD and other disorders is very high, with the consumption of drugs
standing out among these. This article discusses the relationship between smoking, self-esteem
and ADHD. For this purpose, a sample of 1,547 students in 6th grade of primary education
and 1st year compulsory secondary education from 26 schools was used, with an average age
of 11.93 (SD = 0.887). Results: 5.8% of the participants were diagnosed with ADHD, displaying
lower levels of self-esteem than their undiagnosed peers. Tobacco use seems to play an important
role in mediating social self-esteem. Taking into account these results, different strategies
are proposed to improve drug prevention programs.

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Authors

  • Manuel Isorna Folgar - Universidad de Vigo. Ayuntamiento de Catoira. España

  • Sandra Golpe - Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. España

  • Miriam Otero Requeijo - Xunta de Galicia. Consellería de Sanidad. España

  • Javier Ayesta Ayesta - Xunta de Galicia. Consellería de Sanidad. España

  • Patricia Gómez Salgado - Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. España

Keywords:

Self-esteem; Smoking; Adolescents; ADHD; Tobacco.

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