An Investigation of the Student-Teacher Relationship for Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Developmental Systems Theory Perspective

Abstract

The student-teacher relationship quality has shown to predict academic and social outcomes (Crosnoe, Johnson, & Elder, 2004), and relatively recent research suggests its protective nature for children who are academically at-risk, such as those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; Ewe, 2019). Unfortunately, children with ADHD often have strained relationships with their teachers (Rogers & Tannock, 2013). Aside from our understanding of this association, little is known about the developmental trajectory of the association, nor other systemic mechanisms that could be contributing to it. Therefore, three related studies were executed to enhance our understanding of the complexities of the student-teacher relationship for children with ADHD. The first study of the three targeted preschool children in the community (n=113) and their daycare providers (n=55), and assessed the association between early ADHD symptoms and concurrent and later student-teacher relationships in kindergarten (n=67). Findings revealed that higher inattention in preschool was associated with more conflict with daycare providers/educators, whereas higher hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms in kindergarten children were associated with higher student-teacher conflict. The second study compared the student-teacher relationship of children with clinical diagnoses of ADHD and typically developing peers (n=76). Additionally, family-school relations and communication were investigated as a potential contribution to the student-teacher relationship quality. Non-significant differences of the parent-teacher relationship for children with ADHD versus those without the disorder were identified. However, home-school communication was established as a mediator between both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms and student-teacher conflict. Utilizing the same research methods as study two, study three evaluated the contribution of teacher-level characteristics on the student-teacher relationship for children with clinical diagnoses of ADHD. Teacher stress, self-efficacy, and knowledge of ADHD were assessed as mediators between ADHD symptoms and the student-teacher relationship quality. Significant main findings revealed that teacher stress significantly mediated the relationship between children’s ADHD symptoms and student-teacher conflict, whereas teacher efficacy and knowledge of ADHD did not. As a whole, this dissertation research project established and enhanced our understanding of developmental and systemic mechanisms contributing to the student-teacher relationship quality for children exhibiting ADHD symptomology. Future research directives and practical implications are reviewed.