Increasing perceptions of self-worth in preadolescents diagnosed with ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
To test the effectiveness of a school-based, nurse-facilitated support group in increasing perceptions of scholastic competence, social acceptance, behavioral conduct, perceived athletic competence, perceived physical appearance, and perceived global self-worth in preadolescents diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


METHODS
A quasi-experimental design with 65 preadolescents diagnosed with ADD or ADHD in an upper-middle class community in the United States.


METHODS
Participants randomly assigned to either the control or experimental group completed Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Children instrument at the beginning of the study and 4 weeks later. Students in the experimental condition participated in a school-nurse facilitated support group which met twice weekly for 4 weeks.


RESULTS
Participants in the support group had increased scores on each of the six subscales, with significant increases on four of the subscales, including perceived social acceptance, perceived athletic competence, perceived physical appearance, and perceived global self-worth.


CONCLUSIONS
Participation in a school-based, nurse-led support group was positively associated with perception of self-worth in preadolescents diagnosed with ADD or ADHD.
Frame
Kathleen
K
Rutgers University, 3 Elizabeth Court, Medford, NJ 08055, USA. BunkyFrame@aol.com
Kelly
Lynn
L
Bayley
Elizabeth
E
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009511:New England; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002666:Psychology, Child; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012573:School Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013177:Sports