Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Social Distance As A Function Of Mental Health Status And Gender Of College Student Peers, Kaitlyn A. Zuilkowski

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine college students' general preference for social distance from individuals who have mental disorders, as well as their preference for social distance from a peer with a specific diagnostic label of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or a Stuttering Disorder. College students (N = 180) enrolled at a Southeastern liberal arts university completed the Modified Social Distance Scale which assessed general preference for social distance from people with mental disorders and subsequently read a short vignette describing a male or female college student who had been diagnosed with and …

Lead And Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Meta-Analysis, James Kenneth Goodlad Iii

Master's Theses

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is thought to have a significant neurological component, and several brain structures have been implicated. Environmental variables like lead have been shown to affect brain structures, which in turn impacts cognitive development and behavior. Some studies have begun to associate environmental variables like lead with the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms of ADHD. This meta-analysis examined the association between different components of ADHD (including attention problems and hyperactivity/impulsivity) and level of lead exposure in children and adolescents. Articles focusing on the association between lead and inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms were gathered from the online databases PsycINFO and Medline. …

Linking Impulsivity And Inhibitory Control Using Manual And Oculomotor Response Inhibition Tasks, Walter Roberts, Mark T. Fillmore, Richard Milich

Psychology Faculty Publications

Separate cognitive processes govern the inhibitory control of manual and oculomotor movements. Despite this fundamental distinction, little is known about how these inhibitory control processes relate to more complex domains of behavioral functioning. This study sought to determine how these inhibitory control mechanisms relate to broadly defined domains of impulsive behavior. Thirty adults with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 28 comparison adults performed behavioral measures of inhibitory control and completed impulsivity inventories. Results suggest that oculomotor inhibitory control, but not manual inhibitory control, is related to specific domains of self-reported impulsivity. This finding was limited to the ADHD group; no …

Acculturation, Cultural Values, And Latino Parental Beliefs About The Etiology Of Adhd, Kathryn E. Lawton

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders of childhood, but despite the availability of several evidence-based interventions, Latino children are more likely than non-minority children to have an unmet need for services related to ADHD. Because parental beliefs about the etiology of ADHD likely influence which services are sought, more research is needed to examine this aspect of help-seeking behavior in order to address the unmet need among Latino families. Specifically, research needs to focus on cultural factors that likely influence parental beliefs about the etiology of child behavior problems. Thus, the goal of the …

Parents' Perceptions Of The Impact Of Teachers' Attitudes And Behaviors On The Social-Emotional Functioning Of Children With Adhd/Add, Margaret Elizabeth Gaskell

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD) is the most common childhood psychiatric disorder, affecting attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, in 3 to 7 percent of school age children (American Psychiatric Association, 2000; Daley and Birchwood, 2010). ADHD/ADD can impact all aspects of life, in particularly school and social-emotional functioning (Mash and Barkley, 2006; Daley and Birchwood, 2010). Few studies have directly examined teachers' attitudes and behaviors related to teaching children with ADHD/ADD (Kos, Richdale, and Hay, 2006). The goal of this study was to explore the impact of teacher attitudes and behaviors on the social and emotional functioning of children with ADHD/ADD, …

An Electrophysiological Examination Of Adhd-Associated Symptoms And Selective Attention In Adults, Erica Diane Prentkowski

Dissertations

A main component of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a deficit of inattention. This deficit causes impairment for both children and adults in a variety of settings including school and work. The current study examined auditory selective attention in a community sample of adults. It was the aim of this project to examine possible differences in selective attention for adults with high levels of ADHDassociated symptoms, when compared to adults with low levels of ADHD-associated symptoms, including conditions under which these differences may be an advantage. Specifically, it was expected that adults with high ADHD-associated symptoms would benefit from the high …

Déficit De Atención E Hiperactividad En Los Trastornos Del Espectro Autista [Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder In Autism Spectrum Disorders], Cecilia Montiel-Nava, Joaquín A. Peña

Psychological Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

According to the DSM-IV-TR, symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity are frequent in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This statement is supported by clinical observation and formal assessment. However, ASD diagnosis is still among the exclusion criteria for the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Such exclusion generates controversy and questions regarding the need and benefits of maintaining or not these separations; so much so, that the proposed criteria for the DSM-V eliminate that exclusion condition. It is necessary a better understanding of the comorbidity between both entities in order to be able to have an appropriate sequence of the intervention goals. For …

Perceptions Of Acceptability And Effectiveness Of Interventions For Adhd: A Comparison Of Teachers And School Psychologists, Bradley Call

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

This study compared school psychologists’ and teachers’ perceptions of classroom interventions for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants read vignettes of a student with ADHD. They then read descriptions of the Daily Report Card and Response Cost Techniques, two proposed interventions to help the student. They then rated the interventions using the Behavioral Intervention Rating Scale (BIRS; Elliot & Von Brock Treuting, 1991). Differences were observed between which intervention was rated as more acceptable and effective. School psychologists rated the Daily Report Card as less acceptable than teachers did. They also rated the Daily Report Card as less …

The Effects Of Stimulant Medication On Free Recall Of Story Events Among Children With Adhd, Ursula L. Bailey, Karen J. Derefinko, Richard Milich, Elizabeth P. Lorch, Amanda Metze

Psychology Faculty Publications

This study investigated group differences in the recalls of stories by children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comparison peers. Further, the study examined whether stimulant medication improved the story recall of children with ADHD relative to a placebo condition. Children were asked to recall both televised and audio taped stories. Free recall protocols were assessed for what information was recalled as a function of story structure features (i.e. status on or off the causal chain and event importance) and were rated for overall coherence. Relative to comparison peers, children with ADHD showed less influence of story structure features on recall, …

Psychosocial Treatment Of Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Laura E. Knouse, Steven A. Safren

Psychology Faculty Publications

In this chapter, we first review the rationale for psychosocial treatment of adults with ADHD. We then focus on treatment programs that have received support in the research literature, highlighting the role of comprehensive assessment. Drawing upon existing interventions, as well as clinical guidelines and our clinical experiences in the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Program for Adult ADHD at Massachusetts General Hospital, we present recommendations for psychosocial treatment planning with this population. We conclude with a brief discussion of psychosocial management of comorbid disorders.

The Behavioral Effects Of Increased Physical Activity On Preschoolers At Risk For Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Jasmin L. Roberts

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Physical activity (PA) has many health benefits, both physical and psychological. PA has been linked to improved cognitive functioning, superior overall health, and enhanced emotional well-being in populations ranging from school-age children to older adults. There has been less research, however, examining the benefits of PA in atypical preschool populations.

The present study examined the efficacy of a PA intervention in preschool-aged children at risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD symptomatology, response inhibition, and physical activity were measured at three time points over a 6-month period. Results provide support for the efficacy of PA as an alleviative tool …

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder In Childhood Is Associated With Cognitive Test Profiles In The Geriatric Population But Not With Mild Cognitive Impairment Or Alzheimer's Disease, N. Ivanchak, Erin L. Abner, S. A. Carr, S. J. Freeman, A. Seybert, John Ranseen, Gregory A. Jicha

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

The frequency of ADHD in the aging population and its relationship to late-life cognitive decline has not been studied previously. To address this gap in our understanding, the Wender-Utah ADHD Rating scale (WURS) was administered to 310 geriatric subjects with cognitive status ranging from normal cognition to mild cognitive impairment to overt dementia. The frequency of WURS-positive ADHD in this sample was 4.4%. WURS scores were not related to cognitive diagnoses, but did show nonlinear associations with tasks requiring sustained attention. The frequency of ADHD appears stable across generations and does not appear to be associated with MCI or dementia …

Molecular Genetic Basis Of Opposite Gene By Environment Interactions In Reading Disability And Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Jennifer Rosenberg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study is to better understand the genetic basis of Reading Disability (RD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by examining molecular G x E interactions with parental education for each disorder. Research indicates that despite sharing genetic risk factors, RD and ADHD are influenced by different types of G x E interactions with parental education - a diathesis stress interaction in the case of ADHD and a bioecological interaction in RD. In order to resolve this apparent paradox, we conducted a preliminary study using behavioral genetic methods to test for G x E interactions in RD …

Re-Examining The Stop-Signal Task To Test Competing Theories Of Ad/Hd, Laura E. Santerre-Lemmon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study tested two competing models of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), the inhibition and state regulation theories, by conducting fine-grained analyses of the Stop-Signal Task and another putative measure of behavioral inhibition, the Gordon Continuous Performance Test (G-CPT), in a large sample of children and adolescents. The inhibition theory posits that performance on these tasks reflects increased difficulties for AD/HD participants to inhibit prepotent responses. The model predicts that putative stop-signal reaction time (SSRT) group differences on the Stop-Signal Task will be primarily related to AD/HD participants requiring more warning than control participants to inhibit to the stop-signal and emphasizes …

Parental Functioning In Families For Behavioral Parent Training And Importance Of Clinically Meaningful Change, Alyson C. Gerdes, Lauren M. Haack, Brian W. Schneider

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective/Method: Statistically significant and clinically meaningful effects of behavioral parent training on parental functioning were examined for 20 children with ADHD and their parents who had successfully completed a psychosocial treatment for ADHD.

Results/Conclusion: Findings suggest that behavioral parent training resulted in statistically significant improvements in some domains of parenting behavior for both mothers and fathers and in reductions in most domains of parenting stress for mothers. Importantly, clinically meaningful change also was noted for these parental functioning areas, as well as for other domains of parental functioning that did not result in statistically significant findings. Clinical implications …

Advancing Our Knowledge Of Adhd In Latino Children: Psychometric And Cultural Properties Of Spanish-Versions Of Parental/Family Functioning Measures, Lauren M. Haack, Alyson C. Gerdes, Brian W. Schneider, Gabriela Dieguez Hurtado

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

The lack of available Spanish versions of assessment measures contributes to insufficient research and underutilization of mental health services for Latino children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Thus, the goal of the current study was to examine the psychometric and cultural properties of several Spanish versions of parental/family functioning measures commonly used in comprehensive ADHD assessments (i.e., the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, and Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale). Participants included 68 Spanish-speaking, Latino parents in Southeast Wisconsin. In general, the Spanish translations of the measures demonstrated good reliability and validity. Furthermore, the psychometrically-sound measures were significantly related …

How Priming Of Behavioral Symptoms May Affect College Students’ Decision To Diagnose, Caitlen Gilley, Sarah Stertz

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Two disorders that have increased in diagnosis and in media awareness in the past two decades are Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism. Psychologists use priming as a tool to test availability of schemas and concepts. The current study focuses on how priming of ADHD and autism symptoms affects college students’ diagnoses of the corresponding disorder. Also considered is that the control group will diagnosis ADHD more often because of the vast media awareness of ADHD today. The participants in this study were male and female undergraduates at South Dakota State University. There was no significance found for the two …

Assessing The Needs Of Students Identified With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder At Minnesota State University, Mankato, Jenny A. Goff

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

A considerable number of students with a diagnosis of ADHD are represented within the Minnesota State University, Mankato student population. Research indicates that college students with an ADHD diagnosis face unique and challenging experiences in the collegiate environment. In addition to these unique stressors, research indicates that college students with ADHD may benefit from supportive services that can be offered in a University Counseling Center. A survey of the perceived needs for counseling services and utilization of counseling services among students identified with ADHD at MSU, Mankato is useful in determining current trends and informs future Counseling Center service planning.

Effect Of Labeling Bias On Ratings Of Adhd Symptoms, Jessica Lynne Rodriguez

LSU Master's Theses

In a study by Fox and Stinnett (1996), labeling bias was defined as the “expectations that others might develop for a person given a particular label.” Research has repeatedly shown that negative characteristics are often attributed to children given a label, even when behavior does not differ from non-labeled peers. This study aimed to add to the understanding of labeling bias, specifically a label of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Teachers were recruited to participate in an online survey in which they were randomly assigned one of three variations of a vignette. The vignettes described two children with either no label, a …

Teachers Perspectives: An Understanding Of Adhd In A Predominantly Hispanic School District, Heriberto Jesus Oronoz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The current study examined problems that teachers encounter when trying to cope with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the classroom, teachers' perceptions and beliefs about ADHD, as well as their ideas for how to improve services to children with ADHD. To do so, ten in- depth interviews were conducted with teachers from the Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso, TX regarding these topics. Findings reveal that teachers encounter difficulties defining ADHD, dealing with ADHD in the classroom, establishing the proper chain of command for diagnosing children, and with inadequate parental involvement. Further, the study found variability in teachers' …