The Effectiveness of Child-Parent Relationship Therapy on Social Anxiety and Self-esteem in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Background: Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience significant challenges with social interactions and self-worth. Given the potential impact of these difficulties on their overall well-being and future outcomes, understanding effective interventions is crucial. Objectives:: The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of child-parent relationship therapy (CPRT) on social anxiety and self-esteem in children with ADHD. Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The population included all children diagnosed with ADHD in Amol city in 2023. A sample of 44 children was selected using a convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental (n = 22) and control (n = 22) groups. The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale and Children's Self-Esteem Questionnaire were used to collect data. The experimental group received 10 sessions of CPRT, each lasting 90 minutes. The control group did not receive any intervention and served as a waitlist control. Data analysis was conducted using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results: For social anxiety, the mean score in the CPRT group decreased from 90.27 ± 4.71 at the pre-test to 49.73 ± 5.57 at the post-test, while the control group showed minimal change (pre-test mean: 90.86 ± 5.58; post-test mean: 88.41 ± 6.02) (P < 0.001). Similarly, self-esteem scores in the CPRT group increased from a mean of 35.32 ± 3.60 at the pre-test to 63.59 ± 5.34 at the post-test (P < 0.001). The results indicated that CPRT significantly improved social anxiety and self-esteem in children with ADHD at the post-test stage (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The CPRT shows promise in improving social anxiety and self-esteem in children with ADHD. Reduced anxiety can lead to better social interactions, academic performance, and extracurricular involvement. Higher self-esteem can boost self-image, motivation, and resilience. More research is needed to understand the long-term benefits of CPRT.