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ORCID
N/A
Access Type
Open Access Thesis
Document Type
thesis
Degree Program
Psychology
Degree Type
Master of Science (M.S.)
Year Degree Awarded
2019
Month Degree Awarded
February
Abstract
Previous research has suggested there may be racial differences in how adults perceive and rate children’s ADHD behavior (i.e., inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity). The current study examined these differences between African-American/Black (AA/B) parents and European-American/White (EA/W) parents and teachers. Participants watched video clips of children in classrooms and rated their ADHD behaviors and their likelihood of having ADHD. Results showed that EA/W parents and teachers rated African-American boys’ ADHD behaviors and their likelihood of having ADHD higher than AA/B parents. Mechanisms by which these differences exist were explored, including beliefs about stigma related to ADHD, values in movement and expressiveness, experiences with racism, and racial attitudes. Results suggested that EA/W teachers’ racial attitudes toward African Americans were related to their ratings of African-American boys’ ADHD behaviors and likelihood of having ADHD. More research is necessary to further explain the mechanisms by which such discrepancies in ratings of African-American boys’ ADHD behaviors exist between African-American and European-American adults to inform culturally sensitive assessment and diagnosis of ADHD in African-American children.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/13287853
First Advisor
Elizabeth A. Harvey
Recommended Citation
Kang, Sungha, "Racial Differences in Perceptions of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Behavior" (2019). Masters Theses. 744.
https://doi.org/10.7275/13287853
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/masters_theses_2/744