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Coping skills and parent support mediate the association between childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and adolescent cigarette use.

Molina BS, Marshal MP, Pelham WE, Wirth RJ

Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. molinab@upmc.edu

OBJECTIVE: To examine mediators of the association between childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and adolescent cigarette use. METHOD: Participants were 142 adolescents diagnosed with ADHD in childhood and 100 adolescents without ADHD. RESULTS: Among probands, cigarette smoking was more frequent, adaptive coping skills (behavioral and cognitive) were fewer, and parental support was lower. Coping and support partially mediated the ADHD association with smoking. Persistence of ADHD and adolescent conduct disorder were also important. CONCLUSIONS: Vulnerability to smoking among probands may be partly due to fewer problem-solving resources. Coping skill deficits and parent-child communication may be important treatment targets for smoking prevention.

Published 2 May 2005 in J Pediatr Psychol, 30(4): 345-57.
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