Positive fantasies and self-overestimation in children with ADHD

Abstract

Children with ADHD and additional comorbid disorders (conduct disorder and learning disorder) have shown phenomena of self-overestimation regarding their competence in several studies. In addition, children with ADHD perform worse academically than children without the disorder. Fantasy realization theory postulates that different styles of self-regulatory thinking about the future lead to different levels of goal commitment. Future-thinking styles based on mentally contrasting positive fantasies with present reality lead to expectancy-dependent engagement toward goal attainment. In contrast, future-thinking styles that involve indulging in a positive future or dwelling on negative aspects of reality lead to expectancy-independent goal commitment. The aim of the present study was to replicate self-overestimation phenomena in children with ADHD and additional comorbid disorders. It was also investigated whether children with ADHD are more likely than children without ADHD to exhibit an indulgent future-thinking style, which could contribute to the poorer grades of children with ADHD.