Group Relaxation Training and Parental Involvement with Hyperactive Boys

This study investigated the effects of group relaxation training and parental involvement with hyperactive boys on three factors of self-concept: personal-self; social-self; and intellectual-self as measured by the Primary Self-Concept Inventory (PSCI). Subjects were randomly assigned to treatment (n = 16) and control (n = 16) groups. The treatment consisted of three sessions of group relaxation training. Mothers of the experimental group boys also participated in group relaxation exercise sessions separately from their sons. Mothers of the experimental boys were asked to encourage their sons in their relaxation efforts by doing the exercises with their sons at least once a day. They were also instructed to have their sons do the exercises prior to situations which would require continuous attention. Multivariate analysis of variance procedures indicated significant differences between the experimental and control boys (F3.28 = 5.63; p<.01). Post hoc procedures (univariate Fs and discriminant analysis) revealed social-self and intellectual-self measures to be valid discriminators. It was concluded that the intervention affords promise for improving a few domains of self-concept among hyperactive boys.