Perceived Controllability, Avoidance Of Responsibility And Depressive Symptomatology In Boys With Hyperactive Behaviours

Fowler, Nicola (2005) Perceived Controllability, Avoidance Of Responsibility And Depressive Symptomatology In Boys With Hyperactive Behaviours. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Background
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is consistently associated with academic, social and emotional difficulties and poor long-term outcomes. Several studies have identified differences in the causal attributions children with ADHD make following failure experiences compared to their non-clinical peers and have suggested that they have a tendency to avoid responsibility. It has been questioned whether causal attributional style impacts on the motivation and ability of children with ADHD to recognise and change their negative behaviours. The aims of this study are to identify differences in causal attributional style and avoidance of responsibility in boys with and without ADHD and to explore the relationships between causal attributions, avoidance of responsibility and depressive symptomatology using Weiner's (1985; 1995) theory of causal attributions and process of responsibility model.

Method
This study used a between subjects design comparing a clinical group (n=22) consisting of participants with ADHD and a non-clinical comparison group (n=28). Participants were boys aged 11 - 13 years. Participants attended a single interview session where they completed a screening questionnaire for behavioural and emotional problems, and questionnaires about depression and avoidance of responsibility. Specifically designed questions were used to facilitate recall of failure experiences in academic and social domains. Participants were asked to spontaneously generate causal attributions in relation to these failure experiences and then rate these along four causal dimensions using likert scales.

Results
Compared to their non-clinical peers, boys with ADHD had an externalising causal attributional style, characterised by situational locus of causality, low personal control, high external control and stability, which was found across academic and social situations. Boys with ADHD were found to use significantly more avoidance of responsibility strategies than non-clinical participants and high associations were found between high avoidance of responsibility and an externalising attributional style. No significant relationships were found between depression and the causal dimensions included in Weiner's (1985; 1995) theory of causal attributions.

Conclusions
The results of this study support the validity of Weiner's (1985; 1995) theory of causal attributions and process of responsibility model in children with ADHD and support and extend previous findings that children with ADHD have an externalising causal attributional style. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed and suggestions for further research are presented.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Depositing User:	Chris White
Date Deposited:	25 Aug 2026 08:11
Last Modified:	25 Aug 2026 08:11
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104318
DOI:

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