Understanding inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and peer rejection in preschool: The potential role of conduct problems and prosocial behavior

• In preschoolers, disruptive behaviors link ADHD symptoms and peer rejection. • In preschoolers, prosocial deficits also link ADHD symptoms and peer rejection. • ADHD symptoms aren’t directly related to peer rejection in preschool. Peer relationships are imperative for healthy social and emotional development. In preschool, children are exposed to a new, structured environment, in which there is a sharp learning curve to adjust to unfamiliar expectations. Children with inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (H/I) may have limited social awareness and exhibit disruptive behaviors that lead to peer rejection. Beyond IA and H/I, additional factors may contribute to peer rejection. Conduct problems (e.g., defiance, aggression) and limited prosocial behavior (e.g., sharing, helping) are two social behaviors that are related to peer rejection and are typically observed in children with increased levels of IA and H/I. This study examined the degree to which conduct problems and prosocial behavior account for the link between IA, H/I, and peer rejection in a community sample of preschoolers. Data from 131 preschool children (91.6 % White, 45.8 % Female) who participated in a screening project were analyzed. Indirect effect pathways were examined using structural equation modeling (SEM) in MPlus. Results indicated that when conduct problems and prosocial behavior were included in each model, the direct effect of IA and H/I on peer rejection was no longer significant. Findings suggest that IA and H/I may not be the behaviors that are disrupting a preschooler’s social standing. Findings emphasize the influence preschoolers’ behaviors have on their social status, underscoring the relevance of early childhood when attempting to understand social developmental trajectories. Future longitudinal studies are needed to clarify temporal ordering and strengthen the basis for causal inference.