Social profiles among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Evidence from the ABCD study

Social functioning difficulties among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been examined behaviorally; however, limited research has investigated brain networks associated with social difficulties among youth with ADHD. A growing body of literature supports the utility of...

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Main Authors: Rosario Pintos Lobo, Julio A. Peraza, Taylor Salo, Alan Meca, Donisha D. Smith, Kathleen E. Feeney, Katherine M. Schmarder, Matthew T. Sutherland, Raul Gonzalez, Erica D. Musser, Angela R. Laird
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878929325000866
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author Rosario Pintos Lobo
Julio A. Peraza
Taylor Salo
Alan Meca
Donisha D. Smith
Kathleen E. Feeney
Katherine M. Schmarder
Matthew T. Sutherland
Raul Gonzalez
Erica D. Musser
Angela R. Laird
author_facet Rosario Pintos Lobo
Julio A. Peraza
Taylor Salo
Alan Meca
Donisha D. Smith
Kathleen E. Feeney
Katherine M. Schmarder
Matthew T. Sutherland
Raul Gonzalez
Erica D. Musser
Angela R. Laird
author_sort Rosario Pintos Lobo
collection DOAJ
description Social functioning difficulties among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been examined behaviorally; however, limited research has investigated brain networks associated with social difficulties among youth with ADHD. A growing body of literature supports the utility of the NIMH’s Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework, which emphasizes broad neurobiological based dimensions, allowing for the integration of models of both neural circuitry and behavior when examining externalizing behaviors in youth. We hypothesized that an ADHD classification system based on social functioning would better predict real-world psychosocial and academic outcomes compared to traditional Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) nosology of ADHD presentations. First, using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, we identified four distinct profiles of youth with ADHD ranging from low social functioning to high social functioning. These social-data-derived profiles were linked to differential social challenges associated with caregiver income and mental health disorders. Next, our neuroimaging findings initially revealed differential patterns of functional connectivity across profiles involving attention-control, cingulo-opercular, sensorimotor networks. However, these connectivity differences were not consistently replicated, indicating that social functioning alone may not define neurobiologically distinct subgroups. Finally, in comparing our social functioning profiles to existing DSM-5 nosology with respect to real-world psychosocial outcomes, our social profiles demonstrated greater explanatory power for outcomes related to peer relationships, family conflict, and mental health. Overall, these findings emphasize the heterogeneity in social functioning among ADHD youth and suggest that while behavioral profiles are clinically meaningful, future work should integrate additional dimensions, such as executive functioning, to more precisely capture the neurobiological underpinnings of ADHD.
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spelling doaj-art-fc54f1dbe7b546bcaa1ac6f7cfc1f7192025-08-20T02:36:31ZengElsevierDevelopmental Cognitive Neuroscience1878-92932025-10-017510159110.1016/j.dcn.2025.101591Social profiles among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Evidence from the ABCD studyRosario Pintos Lobo0Julio A. Peraza1Taylor Salo2Alan Meca3Donisha D. Smith4Kathleen E. Feeney5Katherine M. Schmarder6Matthew T. Sutherland7Raul Gonzalez8Erica D. Musser9Angela R. Laird10Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; Corresponding author.Department of Physics, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Psychology, University of Texas San Antonio, TX, USADepartment of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USADepartment of Psychology, Barnard College, Columbia University, NY, USADepartment of Physics, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USASocial functioning difficulties among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been examined behaviorally; however, limited research has investigated brain networks associated with social difficulties among youth with ADHD. A growing body of literature supports the utility of the NIMH’s Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework, which emphasizes broad neurobiological based dimensions, allowing for the integration of models of both neural circuitry and behavior when examining externalizing behaviors in youth. We hypothesized that an ADHD classification system based on social functioning would better predict real-world psychosocial and academic outcomes compared to traditional Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) nosology of ADHD presentations. First, using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, we identified four distinct profiles of youth with ADHD ranging from low social functioning to high social functioning. These social-data-derived profiles were linked to differential social challenges associated with caregiver income and mental health disorders. Next, our neuroimaging findings initially revealed differential patterns of functional connectivity across profiles involving attention-control, cingulo-opercular, sensorimotor networks. However, these connectivity differences were not consistently replicated, indicating that social functioning alone may not define neurobiologically distinct subgroups. Finally, in comparing our social functioning profiles to existing DSM-5 nosology with respect to real-world psychosocial outcomes, our social profiles demonstrated greater explanatory power for outcomes related to peer relationships, family conflict, and mental health. Overall, these findings emphasize the heterogeneity in social functioning among ADHD youth and suggest that while behavioral profiles are clinically meaningful, future work should integrate additional dimensions, such as executive functioning, to more precisely capture the neurobiological underpinnings of ADHD.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878929325000866Social functioningAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderResting state functional, connectivityBrain networksResearch domain criteria
spellingShingle Rosario Pintos Lobo
Julio A. Peraza
Taylor Salo
Alan Meca
Donisha D. Smith
Kathleen E. Feeney
Katherine M. Schmarder
Matthew T. Sutherland
Raul Gonzalez
Erica D. Musser
Angela R. Laird
Social profiles among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Evidence from the ABCD study
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Social functioning
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Resting state functional, connectivity
Brain networks
Research domain criteria
title Social profiles among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Evidence from the ABCD study
title_full Social profiles among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Evidence from the ABCD study
title_fullStr Social profiles among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Evidence from the ABCD study
title_full_unstemmed Social profiles among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Evidence from the ABCD study
title_short Social profiles among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Evidence from the ABCD study
title_sort social profiles among youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder adhd evidence from the abcd study
topic Social functioning
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Resting state functional, connectivity
Brain networks
Research domain criteria
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878929325000866
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