Objective: This study examines peer and parenting characteristics of 149 boys and girls with and without subclinical attention problems. Method: Multivariate analyses showed that children with attention problems had higher levels of negative peer nominations and conflict and betrayal in friendships, and their parents tended to use higher levels of negative parenting characteristics compared to comparison children. Children with subclinical attention problems also reported lower levels of positive friendship qualities, and their parents tended to use lower levels of positive parenting characteristics than comparison children. Results: Beyond normative gender differences (e.g., girls reported higher rates of parental involvement than boys), no significant group by gender interactions were found. Conclusion: These findings suggest that both girls and boys who were identified using a subclinical cutoff for attention problems have more difficulties relative to comparison peers across social domains of functioning.
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