Cultivating Strengths: Extracurricular Activity Participation in Relation to Psychological Wellbeing and Social Functioning in Adolescents with and without ADHD
Examines the relationship between extracurricular activity participation and wellbeing in adolescents, suggesting benefits for youth with ADHD.
Key Points
This research explores how involvement in extracurricular activities affects psychological wellbeing and social functioning in adolescents, particularly those with ADHD.
Analyzed data from 3,578 adolescents aged 15-18, including 588 with ADHD.
Utilized descriptive analyses to compare participation between youth with and without ADHD.
Employed path models to examine the relationship between extracurricular participation and psychosocial outcomes.
More frequent extracurricular participation was linked to higher wellbeing and better social behaviors.
Sports participation showed positive associations with wellbeing and adaptive behavior but higher anxiety.
Volunteering was related only to increased socially adaptive behavior.
Some activities like performance and school-based participation were associated with lower wellbeing and social adaptability.
Greater school-based participation helped reduce anxiety among adolescents with ADHD.