Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in School-Age Children: A Manual for Latinx Parents

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting children's well-being. It is a pervasive disorder observed globally, transcending racial and socioeconomic boundaries. Many children experience the challenges of undiagnosed ADHD, leading to the development of additional mental health conditions, including anxiety and social isolation, among others. One particular community disproportionately affected by a lack of knowledge of the specific features of ADHD is the Latinx community. Despite being one of the largest minority communities in the U.S., Latinx parents encounter limited resources guiding them in accessing services for their children with ADHD. The challenges faced by Latinx parents extend beyond the undiagnosed status of their children, encompassing language barriers and a limited understanding of the special educational services provided by schools. The scarcity of available resources for mental health care dedicated to Latinx children with ADHD is reflected in the overall quality of mental health care provided to the Latinx community. Previous research emphasizes the necessity of creating more resources for the Latinx community. Thus, the goal of this dissertation was to develop a psychoeducational tool in order to support Latinx parents with school-age children with ADHD. Through a literature review, culturally sensitive content, an editorial process, and collaboration with a graphic designer, this dissertation developed a bilingual manual for Latinx parents dealing with children with ADHD. The manual underwent evaluation by three reviewers who provided valuable feedback. The end product received high approval from the reviewers, who expressed a readiness to recommend it to Latinx parents with children with ADHD. The manual offers implications for use not only in clinical settings but also as a resource for schools to provide psychoeducation on ADHD and special education to Latinx parents. While acknowledging certain limitations, such as the manual's use of California's educational stipulations and limited generalizability to other states, it remains a valuable tool. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]