Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis by Kindergarten Entry

• In Event: Issues in Early Childhood Education

Abstract

We analyzed a nationally representative dataset to identify risk factors associated with an ADHD diagnosis by kindergarten entry generally, and investigated whether racial/ethnic disparities in ADHD diagnosis occur by this very early time period. Results indicated that Black children in the U.S. were 70% (1 - OR of .30) less likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis than otherwise similar White children. Hispanic children initially appeared to be under-diagnosed for ADHD. However, their disparity with Whites became statistically non-significant after controlling for whether a language other than English was primarily spoken in the home. Analyses of kindergarten teacher-reported classroom behavior indicated that neither Black nor Hispanic children displayed less frequent ADHD-related behaviors.

Authors

• Paul L. Morgan, The Pennsylvania State University

• Marianne Hillemeier, The Pennsylvania State University

• George Farkas, University of California - Irvine

• Steven Maczuga, The Pennsylvania State University