Screen for and treat low self-concept in children with ADHD even when medication is managing symptoms well¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 5 claims (5 for) · 1 study (1 associational), q2 · 1 of 1 report an effect size · 5 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The authors recommend that clinicians address self-concept directly as part of ADHD care, not only symptoms. They write that "screening and treating low self-concept should be considered, even when medication is resulting in a good response for managing the symptoms of ADHD." Specific activities include identifying personal strengths, sharing success stories, and providing peer support, with early intervention to prevent secondary emotional injuries.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Assessment of self-concept (e.g., child self-report such as the Piers-Harris scale) alongside ADHD symptom management, and attention to peer relationships, school performance, and acceptance as domains influencing self-concept.

Constraints¶

• The supporting findings are cross-sectional and correlational; the study was not longitudinal and self-concept was not measured before ADHD diagnosis.

Target Learners¶

• children and adolescents with ADHD aged 6-18

Target Learning Goals¶

• positive self-concept and self-esteem
• social-emotional development
• prevention of secondary emotional injuries

Claims¶

• Gender is not related to self-concept in children with ADHD, though females report more internalizing problems [+W]
• Internalizing behavior problems predict lower self-concept in children and adolescents with ADHD [+W]
• No significant ethnic differences in behavior problems or self-concept among children with ADHD, though Caucasian children had the lowest mean self-concept [+W]
• Older children and adolescents with ADHD have lower self-concept scores [+W]
• Total behavior problems show a moderate negative correlation with self-concept in children with ADHD [+W]

Related Strategies¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Houck, G., Kendall, J., Miller, A., Morrell, P., & Wiebe, G. (2011). Self-concept in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 26(3), 239-247. doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2010.02.004