Impacts of childhood ADHD symptoms and stress on adult wellbeing and educational attainment: Investigations using data science

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Joanne Cotton's ESRC postdoctoral fellow research project will consolidate and communicate findings from an innovative and thought-provoking PhD study of the impacts of childhood ADHD symptoms and stress on adult wellbeing and educational attainment. Data science methods were used with a large dataset to retrospectively derive and analyse currently relevant psychosocial constructs in the 1970 British Cohort Study. Robust regression models were built that controlled for cognitive abilities, stress, self-concept, and specifically relevant socio-economic factors. Results indicated that childhood ADHD symptoms per se did not predict wellbeing or education in adulthood. Significant correlates of adult outcomes for children with clinical levels of ADHD symptomatology included chronic stressors, externalising problems and reading test scores, measured at age 10.Dr Cotton's work plan includes publication of at least two articles in high-profile international journals, at least six talks in the UK and the United States, and planning and delivery of a seminar dedicated to sharing information and collaborating with a niche group of academics, practitioners, industry professionals, and policy makers. The seminar will showcase the work of multiple presenters on use of data science and large datasets to study ADHD and similar neurodevelopmental differences, with a long-term aim of supporting evidence-based educational practice. The talks, conferences and seminar will facilitate development of a strong network of influential stakeholders. Outreach will grow from existing contacts at the Cambridge MRC Cognitive and Brain Sciences Unit (CBU), Cambridge Neuroscience, World Federation of ADHD, Centre for Educational Neuroscience at UCL/Birkbeck, UCL/Institute of Education, Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London, and the Department for Education.