MetaTOC stay on top of your field, easily

Social Support in Children With ADHD: An Exploration of Resilience

, , ,

Journal of Attention Disorders: A Journal of Theoretical and Applied Science

Published online on

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the role of perceived social support in promoting emotional well-being among children with ADHD. Specifically, it examined how children with ADHD perceive support from key individuals in their lives and the relationships between this support and aspects of emotional well-being. Main versus buffering models of social support in the context of social preference status were also explored. Method: Participants were 55 school-age children with ADHD–combined or hyperactive/impulsive (ADHD-C/HI). Parent and child ratings evaluated source-specific social support, social status, and aspects of self-concept, anxiety, and depression. Results: Children with ADHD reported lower social support than normative samples. Social support had moderate positive associations with self-concept, with source-specific differences, but was not associated with internalizing symptoms. Regression models with social preference status supported a main effect model of perceived social support. Conclusion: Social support may provide a target for resilience-based interventions among children with ADHD in promoting their self-concept and well-being.