The Effectiveness of Teaching Self-regulatory Strategies on Attention Deficit, Social Adjustment, and Self-efficacy in Children With Attention -Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Background and Aims One of the common childhood disorders is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, which can be caused by a lack of self-regulation. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching self-regulatory strategies on elementary students’ attention deficit, social adjustment, and self-efficacy in Tehran City, Iran. Methods This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. In this research, 100 students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were selected by cluster sampling from 9-11 years old male elementary schools of District 16, Tehran City, Iran, in the 2018-2019 academic year. They were studied using the Conners questionnaire, attention-deficit questionnaire, general self-efficacy questionnaire, social adjustment questionnaire, and Russell Barkley’s 8-session educational protocol. Results he study’s results demonstrated the effect of self-regulatory strategic teaching on the reduction of attention deficit, increase in social adjustment, and self-efficacy of students in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Cognitive skills and instructional programs in early life play an essential role in children’s learning and self-regulation improvement. Furthermore, they can reduce the occurrence rate of long-term behavioral problems.