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Diet and physical exercises for preschoolers with ADHD and their mothers: An intervention study
Marwa M Hassan1, Anwar Al Nuaim2, Safaa R Osman3
1Associate professor of Health Education, physical education department, college of Education, king Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. Associate professor of Health Education, Sports Health Science department. Faculty of Physical Education, Assiut University, Egypt..
Insights
This study found that 10% of preschoolers exhibit ADHD symptoms. An educational intervention improved mothers' knowledge of nutrition and physical exercise, and children with ADHD enjoyed interactive sessions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a significant public health concern.
- Nutritional and physical activity interventions can supplement standard ADHD management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of ADHD symptoms in preschoolers.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition and physical exercise educational interventions for mothers and their preschoolers with ADHD symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A two-phase study involving a cross-sectional survey of 400 preschoolers (ages 3-6) to determine ADHD symptom prevalence.
- A quasi-experimental intervention with 36 preschoolers with ADHD symptoms and their mothers, focusing on nutrition and physical activity education.
- Data analysis using SPSS with paired t-tests to assess pre- and post-intervention differences (P < 0.05).
Main Results:
- 10% of the 400 preschoolers surveyed displayed high ADHD symptoms.
- Mothers' knowledge scores regarding nutrition and physical exercise significantly improved post-intervention (p = 0.01).
- Preschoolers with ADHD symptoms demonstrated enjoyment during interactive nutrition and physical activity sessions (p = 0.01).
Conclusions:
- The educational intervention effectively enhanced mothers' knowledge about nutrition and physical activity.
- Interactive sessions involving games and photos were well-received by preschoolers with ADHD symptoms.
- The intervention shows promise as a feasible approach for further research in ADHD management.
Background:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a serious public health problem. Diet-focused approaches and physical exercise can be used to complement other ADHD management techniques.
Objective:
To determine the prevalence of ADHD symptoms among preschoolers in nursery schools and to evaluate the educational interventions toward nutrition and physical exercise in mothers and their preschoolers with ADHD symptoms.
Research Methodology:
A two-phase sampling method was employed. First, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of ADHD symptoms in four nursery schools (400 preschoolers aged between 3 and 6 years). Second, an intervention study (a quasi-experimental research design with one group completing the pre-test and the post-test) was performed on 36 preschoolers having ADHD symptoms and their mothers by using the educational intervention for mothers and photos and games about nutrition and physical exercise for the preschoolers with ADHD; mothers of four children out of the 40 refused to participate in the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The paired t-test was used to determine significant differences between the groups. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05.
Results:
Of the 400 preschoolers, 10% had high ADHD symptoms. The mean score of mothers' knowledge of nutrition and physical exercise improved after the implementation of the program (p = 0.01). In addition, preschoolers with ADHD enjoyed the session with photos and games (p = 0.01).
Conclusions And Implications:
Educational intervention significantly improved the knowledge of the mothers. Moreover, preschoolers with ADHD symptoms enjoyed the session with photos and games. This intervention appears to be feasible and promising for further investigation of its effects.
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