CADDRA ADHD Research Digest Issue 2, June 2021
Impact of COVID-19 on Childhood ADHD
Objectives:
- To better understand the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health, behavior and lifestyle of children with ADHD from a parent’s perspective
- To understand changes in educational support and learning for children with ADHD in the initial phases of the pandemic
- To understand ongoing impacts.
The initial survey was conducted in May 2020. Community agencies were involved in recruiting parents. Over 600 parents participated.
Key takeaways from the project so far are:
- Children with ADHD found online learning challenging and their learning needs were not being met;
- Healthy lifestyle behaviors, which were affected by the pandemic, are critical to the mental wellbeing of children with ADHD.
Tasmia Hai is training to be a school psychologist and is specifically interested in the impact of the pandemic on education and learning.
Rose Swansburg’s research is focused on the lifestyle impact of the pandemic. Data from the first survey showed children who exhibit less healthy lifestyle habits (decreased sleep, exercise) demonstrated poorer mental health functioning (increased ADHD symptoms, depression and anxiety).
The team is currently recruiting parents for a follow-up survey.
The team recently sat down for a conversation with Stacey D. Espinet, CADDRA’s Education Manager. Click here for the video interview
CADDRA ADHD Research Digest Issue 1, March 2021
Parental support for children’s learning during the Covid-19 pandemic:
A pan-Canadian study of children and youth with ADHD.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Maria A. Rogers, University of Ottawa
Co-Investigators: Dr. Janet Mah, BC Children’s Hospital; Dr. Emma A. Climie, University of Calgary; Dr. Yuanyuan Jiang, Saint Paul University & University of Alberta; Dr. Penny Corkum, Dalhousie University
Student Investigators: Tessa Ritchie, M.Sc., University of Ottawa & Amanda Krause, M.A., University of Ottawa
Click here to read the interview.