Parents as Friendship Coaches for Children With ADHD

University of British Columbia172 enrolled

Overview

Many children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have problems with making and keeping friends. The current study compared the efficacy of two 10-week behavioral interventions for improving the friendships of children with this disorder. Participants were children ages 6-11 with ADHD and their families, who were experiencing friendship problems. Outcome measures assessed friendship quality and friendship behaviors at baseline (pre-treatment), post-treatment, and 8-month follow-up.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

172

Conditions

ADHD

Interventions

Parental Friendship CoachingBEHAVIORAL

In this condition, therapists instructed parents in ways to coach their children to display better friendship behaviors using skills teaching, role play, active practice, and homework. This is a 10 week group intervention.

Coping with ADHD through Relationships and EducationBEHAVIORAL

In this condition, the therapist provided parents with psychoeducation about ADHD and friendship difficulties, and encouraged them to apply this information to their child and to support one another with tips about how to address these problems. This is a 10 week group intervention.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 6 YearsMax age: 11 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Children who meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD * Children who are have peer relationship problems Exclusion Criteria: * Children with autism spectrum disorder, psychosis, or active suicidality (requires other interventions * Children with intellectual disability (may not benefit from the interventions offered) * Children who are not on a stable dose of medication (this treatment may affect outcome measures) * Children who are receiving other behavioral treatment or treatment for social problems (these other treatments may affect outcome measures).

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Positive and Negative Friendship Quality - Questionnaires

Measures of positive and negative relationship quality with a friend, as reported by informants (adults, children) on the Friendship Quality Questionnaire

Time frame: change from baseline (pre-treatment) to post-treatment (approximately 4 months after baseline)

Change in Positive and Negative Friendship Quality - Questionnaires

Measures of positive and negative relationship quality with a friend, as reported by informants (adults, children) on the Friendship Quality Questionnaire

Time frame: change from baseline (pre-treatment) to follow-up (approximately 12 months after baseline, and 4 months after post-treatment)

Change in Positive and Negative Friendship Quality - Observations

Measures of positive and negative relationship quality with a friend, as observed in a lab-based interaction

Time frame: change from baseline (pre-treatment) to post-treatment (approximately 4 months after baseline)

Change in Positive and Negative Friendship Quality - Observations

Measures of positive and negative relationship quality with a friend, as observed in a lab-based interaction

Time frame: change from baseline (pre-treatment) to follow-up (approximately 12 months after baseline, and 4 months after post-treatment)

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Positive and Negative Friendship Behaviors- Questionnaires

Measures of positive and negative behaviors with a friend, as reported by parents on the Quality of Play Questionnaire

Time frame: change from baseline (pre-treatment) to post-treatment (approximately 4 months after baseline)

Change in Positive and Negative Friendship Behaviors- Questionnaires

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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