A Multimethod Intervention for Social Skills Deficits in Children with ADHD and Their Parents

Abstract

A social skills intervention program was implemented for 5 boys with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder and their parents. The child-based intervention was comprised of 10 weekly sessions focusing on target skills in the areas of social entry, maintaining interactions, and solving problems. All subjects also were on stimulant medication. A parent group met separately but simultaneously with the children's group to teach parents skills to help their children with their social problems. Parents were taught the skills of debriefing, problem solving, and goal setting. A multiple baseline across behaviors design was used for child and parent subjects. Child-subjects demonstrated positive changes in analogue observations; however, experimental control was not evidenced in all cases. Parents' skills in debriefing, problem solving and goal setting also improved, as demonstrated on home-based audio tape assessments. All subjects reported improvements of at least one standard deviation on self-report social skills rating scales, and parent and teacher reports also suggested general improvement for most subjects. In general, behavioral changes were considered to be socially valid, and all parent and child subjects viewed the social skills interventions very positively.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan M. Sheridan

Susan Sheridan is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Utah. Her research interests are in the areas of behavioral consultation, social skills, educational partnerships, and home–school collaboration. She is the 1993 recipient of the Lightner Witmer award for early career contributions and recently published Social Skills for the Tough Kid: A Guide for Educators with Sopris West.

Candace C. Dee

Candace Dee is a school psychologist in Jordan School District, Salt Lake City, Utah. She is currently completing her doctorate in Educational (School) Psychology at the University of Utah.

Julie C. Morgan

Julie Morgan recently completed her Master's degree in Educational (School) Psychology at the University of Utah. She is currently a school psychologist in Henderson, Nevada.

Megan E. McCormick

Megan McCormick is a school psychologist in the Jordan School District in Salt Lake City, Utah. At present, she is completing her doctorate in Educational (School) Psychology at the University of Utah.

Dorlene Walker

Dorlene Walker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Utah. Her research interests are in the areas of collaboration, counseling issues with special populations, and professional development and training.