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

Abstract

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. © Society of Pediatric Psychology 2005; all rights reserved.