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Associations Between Anxiety and Home Learning Difficulties in Children and Adolescents with ADHD During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Version 2 2024-05-30, 16:09
Version 1 2022-03-17, 08:23
journal contribution
posted on 2024-05-30, 16:09 authored by Anna Jackson, Glenn MelvinGlenn Melvin, Melissa Mulraney, Stephen P Becker, Mark A Bellgrove, Jon Quach, Delyse HutchinsonDelyse Hutchinson, Elizabeth WestruppElizabeth Westrupp, Alicia Montgomery, Emma SciberrasEmma Sciberras
AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has markedly impacted functioning for children and adolescents including those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We explored home learning difficulties (HLD) during COVID-19 restrictions in Australian children (aged 5–17) with ADHD, aiming to: (1) describe home learning experiences, and (2) examine associations between child anxiety (i.e., concurrent anxiety symptoms and pre-existing anxiety disorder status) and HLD. Baseline data from the longitudinal ADHD COVID-19 Survey were used (n = 122). Parents reported on school factors and HLD; pre-existing anxiety and co-occurring difficulties; anxiety, ADHD, and oppositional symptoms; demographics; and medications. Parents retrospectively reported more children often looked forward to school pre-pandemic, than during the pandemic. Anxiety symptoms, but not pre-existing anxiety disorder status, were associated with HLD after accounting for covariates. ADHD inattention symptoms were also associated with HLD. Results support recommendations to continue pre-pandemic supports to assist with ADHD symptoms during home learning, and strategies/supports for families are discussed.

History

Journal

Child Psychiatry & Human Development

Volume

54

Pagination

1347-1359

Location

Berlin, Germany

ISSN

0009-398X

eISSN

1573-3327

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Issue

5

Publisher

Springer