Date of Award

1-1-2012

Document Type

Campus Access Thesis

Department

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Sub-Department

Epidemiology

First Advisor

Robert E McKeown

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this thesis is to give further insight into how children with and without ADHD perceive both themselves and their relationship with their parents and the impact that has overall on self-concept scores. Patients and methods: The dataset for this thesis is taken from the South Carolina Project to Learn about ADHD in Youth study (SC PLAY). The population used for this study was chosen from a school district in South Carolina. This district was made up of 15 elementary schools, which included approximately 8,700 students. Participants in this study were sampled based on sex and probable ADHD status, using a stratified design with frequency matching by gender. Data will be analyzed using survey procedures in SAS callable SUDAAN version 10.0 to allow for weighting and a multistage stratified study design.

Results: Children with ADHD have lower self=concept scores in General Self, General School, and Parent Relations. ADHD was statistically significant in General Self, and non-Hispanic Black children were statistically significant in Parent Relations self-concept scores.

Conclusion: In conclusion, children with ADHD have lower self-concept scores and varying parent relation scores than children without ADHD. Though various symptoms of ADHD contribute to these score trends, it is seen that highest level of parent education and family structure contributed to these scores as well. Future studies should continue to focus on including child, parent, and teacher perspectives in studies looking at self-concept and parent relations in children with ADHD. Examining self-concept further, and considering various independent elements, such as family, medication, and comorbidities, will help to shed light on how self-concept and parent relations affects overall well-being and quality of life in children with ADHD.

Rights

© 2012, Lindsay Chanel Robinson

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