Sophie Rushton1,2, Rebecca Giallo1,3, Daryl Efron1,2,3. 1. Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. 2. Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. 3. Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is consistently associated with poor school-level outcomes. Although school engagement is recognized as a protective factor associated with increased academic achievement, school retention/completion, and student well-being in the general population, little research has focused on school engagement in children with ADHD. AIMS: To explore a model of the relationships between ADHD symptoms at age 7, student-teacher closeness and conflict at age 10, and emotional engagement with school at age 10 and 12. SAMPLE: Participants were 498 grade one children (mean age = 7.3), recruited from 43 socio-economically diverse government primary schools in Melbourne. Follow-up occurred at 36 months (mean age = 10.5) and 54 months (mean age = 12.0). METHODS: Data were drawn from a controlled community-based longitudinal study examining the long-term effects of ADHD on children's behaviour, learning, and day-to-day living. Data were collected via direct assessment and child, parent, and teacher surveys. RESULTS: Path analysis revealed a significant, negative relationship between ADHD symptoms and emotional engagement with school, which was partially mediated by student-teacher conflict. This remained significant after controlling for differences in ADHD status (ADHD, high-risk, or control group), ADHD medication use, and socio-economic status. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the negative impact of ADHD symptoms on children's emotional engagement with school. Given the role of student-teacher conflict in mediating this relationship, interventions aiming to reduce conflict in the student-teacher relationship may promote school engagement for students with ADHD, with potential to improve longer-term outcomes.
BACKGROUND:Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is consistently associated with poor school-level outcomes. Although school engagement is recognized as a protective factor associated with increased academic achievement, school retention/completion, and student well-being in the general population, little research has focused on school engagement in children with ADHD. AIMS: To explore a model of the relationships between ADHD symptoms at age 7, student-teacher closeness and conflict at age 10, and emotional engagement with school at age 10 and 12. SAMPLE: Participants were 498 grade one children (mean age = 7.3), recruited from 43 socio-economically diverse government primary schools in Melbourne. Follow-up occurred at 36 months (mean age = 10.5) and 54 months (mean age = 12.0). METHODS: Data were drawn from a controlled community-based longitudinal study examining the long-term effects of ADHD on children's behaviour, learning, and day-to-day living. Data were collected via direct assessment and child, parent, and teacher surveys. RESULTS: Path analysis revealed a significant, negative relationship between ADHD symptoms and emotional engagement with school, which was partially mediated by student-teacher conflict. This remained significant after controlling for differences in ADHD status (ADHD, high-risk, or control group), ADHD medication use, and socio-economic status. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the negative impact of ADHD symptoms on children's emotional engagement with school. Given the role of student-teacher conflict in mediating this relationship, interventions aiming to reduce conflict in the student-teacher relationship may promote school engagement for students with ADHD, with potential to improve longer-term outcomes.
Authors: Gwendolyn M Lawson; Julie Sarno Owens; David S Mandell; Samantha Tavlin; Steven Rufe; Amy So; Thomas J Power Journal: School Ment Health Date: 2022-05-26