Enhancers of social functioning of children with ADHD: Literature review of foreign studies

Abstract

Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) more often experience social rejection than their typically neurodeveloping children. Most existing research have been focused on risk factors and negative outcomes. However, some children with ADHD maintain social acceptance. There has been a shift from a deficit-oriented approach to investigation of protective factors that enhance social acceptance in the presence of ADHD in foreign studies during last decade but there are not publication analyzed and summarized these factors. The goal of our systematic literature review is to estimate and summarized empirical studies of protective factors reducing social rejection of children with ADHD. This literature review includes research that are related to rejection of clinically diagnosed ADHD children and children with ADHD symptoms. Eleven studies were identified and summarized. Protective factors were analyzed according to 3 levels: individual, family and social. The results of the literature review demonstrate evidence of protective mechanisms at all levels. This literature review promotes an approach of social work with children with ADHD that is based on child’s strengths and protective factors.

Keywords: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, social rejection, social acceptance, protective factors.