ORCID Profile
0000-0001-9046-5183
Current Organisation
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-10-2021
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 17-12-2020
Abstract: To examine the impact of COVID-19 restrictions among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Parents of 213 Australian children (5–17 years) with ADHD completed a survey in May 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions were in place (i.e., requiring citizens to stay at home except for essential reasons). Compared to pre-pandemic, children had less exercise (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.4 95% CI 0.3–0.6), less outdoor time (OR = 0.4 95% 0.3–0.6), and less enjoyment in activities (OR = 6.5 95% CI 4.0–10.4), while television (OR = 4.0 95% CI 2.5–6.5), social media (OR = 2.4 95% CI 1.3–4.5), gaming (OR = 2.0 95% CI 1.3–3.0), sad/depressed mood (OR = 1.8 95% CI 1.2–2.8), and loneliness (OR = 3.6 95% CI 2.3–5.5) were increased. Child stress about COVID-19 restrictions was associated with poorer functioning across most domains. Most parents (64%) reported positive changes for their child including more family time. COVID-19 restrictions were associated with both negative and positive impacts among children with ADHD.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 25-04-2023
DOI: 10.1177/10870547231168334
Abstract: To investigate the longitudinal associations between COVID-19 induced stress (related to COVID-19 restrictions/changes), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, oppositional symptoms, and mental health outcomes (negative affect, anxiety, depression, and irritability) in children with ADHD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents of 140 Australian children with ADHD (aged 5–17 years) completed an online survey in May 2020 during stay-at-home restrictions and 12-months later. Baseline COVID-19 stress was associated with increased total ADHD symptom severity (β = .21, p = .007) and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms (β = .23, p = .002) at 12-months, after accounting for covariates (i.e., child age, gender, ADHD medication, socio-economic status, and baseline symptoms). Despite some indication of associations between baseline COVID-19 stress and 12-month oppositional symptoms and negative affect, these were attenuated when adjusting for baseline symptoms. The study provides initial evidence of the medium-term impacts of pandemic-related stress for children with ADHD.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-03-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S10578-022-01338-3
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has markedly impacted functioning for children and adolescents including those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We explored home learning difficulties (HLD) during COVID-19 restrictions in Australian children (aged 5–17) with ADHD, aiming to: (1) describe home learning experiences, and (2) examine associations between child anxiety (i.e., concurrent anxiety symptoms and pre-existing anxiety disorder status) and HLD. Baseline data from the longitudinal ADHD COVID-19 Survey were used ( n = 122). Parents reported on school factors and HLD pre-existing anxiety and co-occurring difficulties anxiety, ADHD, and oppositional symptoms demographics and medications. Parents retrospectively reported more children often looked forward to school pre-pandemic, than during the pandemic. Anxiety symptoms, but not pre-existing anxiety disorder status, were associated with HLD after accounting for covariates. ADHD inattention symptoms were also associated with HLD. Results support recommendations to continue pre-pandemic supports to assist with ADHD symptoms during home learning, and strategies/supports for families are discussed.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-01-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-06-2023
DOI: 10.1111/JCPP.13835
Abstract: Sleep difficulties are common in children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, sleep problems are multifaceted and little is known about the variation in sleep difficulties across children with ADHD. We examined the profiles of sleep difficulties in children with ADHD and associated clinical factors (e.g. co‐occurring mental health conditions, stimulant use and parent mental health). Data from two harmonised studies of children with ADHD (total: N = 392, ages 5–13 years) were used. Parents completed measures of children's sleep, co‐occurring mental health conditions and their own mental health. Both parents and teachers completed measures of child ADHD symptoms and emotional and conduct symptoms. Latent profile analysis was used to identify sleep profiles, and multinomial logistic regression assessed clinical correlates of the groups. Five sleep profiles were identified: (a) insomnia/delayed sleep phase (36%), (b) generalised sleep difficulties at sleep onset and overnight (25%), (c) high anxious/bedtime resistance difficulties (11%), (d) overnight sleep difficulties including obstructive sleep apnoea and parasomnias (5%) and (e) no sleep difficulties (22%). Compared with the group without sleep difficulties, the generalised, anxious/bedtime resistance and insomnia/delayed sleep phase sleep had greater parent‐reported emotional and conduct symptoms, co‐occurring anxiety and increased parent mental health difficulties. The generalised and anxious/bedtime resistance groups also had greater parent‐reported ADHD symptoms, with the anxious/bedtime resistance sleep group also having more frequent co‐occurring depression and teacher‐reported emotional symptoms. The sleep difficulties experienced by children with ADHD are varied. Supports to help children with ADHD need to consider the particular profiles of sleep difficulties experienced and broader clinical characteristics. Tailored intervention approaches are likely needed (including a need to address parent mental health).
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 03-2022
DOI: 10.1037/SPQ0000465
Abstract: Among the many impacts of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, one of the most dramatic was the immediate closure of in-person schooling in March/April 2020 when parents were faced with much greater responsibility in supporting their children's learning. Despite this, few studies have examined parents' own perspectives of this experience. The aims of this preliminary study were to (a) identify challenges, benefits, and useful strategies related to remote learning and (b) examine differences in findings across two countries, between parents of youth with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and between parents of children and adolescents. To address these aims, parent responses to open-ended questions on the Home Adjustment to COVID-19 Scale (HACS Becker, Breaux, et al., 2020) were examined across three studies conducted in the United States and Australia (N = 606, children: 68.5% male, ages 6-17 years). The challenges most frequently expressed by parents included the child's difficulty staying on task (23.8% of parents), lack of motivation (18.3%), remote learning factors (17.8%), and lack of social interaction (14.4%). The most frequently expressed strategy related to using routines and schedules (58.2%) and the biggest benefit was more family time (20.3%). Findings were largely consistent across countries, ADHD status, and age, with a few notable group differences. Given that the most common challenges involved child- (e.g., difficulties with staying on task and motivation), parent- (e.g., balancing remote learning with work responsibilities), and school- (e.g., remote instruction difficulties) related factors, there is a need for improved support across these systems going forward. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Location: United States of America
No related grants have been discovered for Stephen Becker.