Effects of Family-Based Interventions on Clinical Symptoms and Social Skills of Hyperactive Children

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of family-based interventions on clinical symptoms and social skills of hyperactive children. Material and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-test. A total of 28 school students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) referring to a Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Counseling Center along with their parents were selected using the available sampling method as the main sample of the study. They were then divided into two equal groups ─ an experimental group receiving intervention (family therapy) and a control group receiving no intervention. The research tools were the Inderbitzen and Foster Adolescents Social Skills Questionnaire (CWS, 1992) and the Conners Parent Questionnaire (1999). Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. Results: Analysis of the data showed that family-based interventions can lead to increases in social skills and decrease clinical symptoms in children with ADHD. Conclusion: It is concluded that family-based intervention can result in enhancing social skills and reducing clinical symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.