Athletic Performance and Social Behavior as Predictors of Peer Acceptance in Children Diagnosed With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Sixty-three children between ages 6 and 12 who were enrolled in a summer treatment program for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) participated in a study designed to measure the relationship between social behaviors, athletic performance, and peer acceptance. Children were assessed on sport-specific skills of three major sports (basketball,soccer,and softball),general fitness tests (i.e., 50-yard dash and sit-ups), and social behavioral measures. Predictors were standardized and separated into three broad domains:athletic performance, negative social behavior, and positive social behavior. Both negative behavior and athletic performance significantly predicted children's sociometric status regardless of outcome measure. Positive behavior was a significant predictor only when considering positive peer nominations.The direction and magnitude of the predictor varied by type of outcome measured. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.