Abstracts Psychology

A Preliminary 'Shortlist' of Individual, Family, and Social Community Assets to Promote Resilience in Children with ADHD

by Elizabeth S. M. Chan

Objective: The current study seeks to provide a preliminary roadmap of key individual, family, and social-community assets that can be studied and targeted towards both decreasing risk and optimizing positive outcomes for children with ADHD. Method: Study sample included a clinically evaluated sample of 206 children with and without ADHD (ages 8-13; 85 girls; 66.5% White/Non-Hispanic). All subsets regression and dominance analysis (Azen & Budescu, 2003) were used to identify a set of assets that together predict the most variance in resilience in ADHD, as well as the relative importance of these assets. In addition, each asset was examined to determine whether benefits conferred differs based on risk level (i.e., ADHD status). Results: Higher levels of peer acceptance, social skills, and academic performance were top predictors of resilience in resilience among children with ADHD. Better child cognitive functioning, attention, gross motor movement, and parent self-reported mental health concerns were also identified as predictors of resilience in ADHD. Consistent with prior literature, we additionally found assets differed for children with and without ADHD, as well as the degree of benefits conferred based on diagnostic status. Conclusions: These results, if replicated, and matched to ecological outcomes provide a strong empirical basis for a strength-based line of basic and applied research on individual, family, and social-community assets for children with ADHD. A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology. July 19, 2022. ADHD, Resilience Michael J. Kofler, Professor Directing Dissertation; S. Kathleen Krach, University Representative; Alexandria Meyer, Committee Member; Walter Boot, Committee Member; Natalie Sachs-Ericsson, Committee Member.