Date of Award

4-21-2021

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Lisa VanGetson APRN, DNP, FNP-C

Second Advisor

Colleen Lane APRN, DNP, FNP-C

Third Advisor

Joyce P. Miller DNP, RN

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, marked by symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. These symptoms contribute to difficulties with psychosocial functioning, often leading to feelings of inferiority. Several studies identify that those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have lower self-perceptions with risks for comorbidities and poor quality of life. However, few studies have attempted to provide interventions to increase the self-perceptions of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Most interventions for those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder focus on giving medications and implementing behavioral modification techniques to externally control behaviors. However, this scholarly project focuses on an internal approach of a social empowerment support group to provide insight or pattern recognition to motivate change or pattern transformation, aligning with Newman’s Health as Expanding Consciousness Theory. By developing higher levels of understanding and interactions, those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will increase the perception of their ability to successfully navigate more complex challenges. The preadolescent participants of this social empowerment support group demonstrated increased self-perception scores after attending. Since attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is considered a chronic disorder and level of functioning determines life satisfaction, this scholarly project creates awareness of the importance for practitioners to assess self-perception of functioning and provide interventions that promote self-efficacy for ongoing improvement of functioning.

Identifier

SC 11.DNP.2021.Hanson.S

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