Abstract

REYES, Marina  and  ACUNA, Laura. Knowledge of Elementary School Teachers about the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Acta de investigación psicol [online]. 2012, vol.2, n.3, pp.878-898. ISSN 2007-4719.

The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of sex, age and social class of elementary school teachers on their knowledge about the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study also determined the influence of the school grade in which the teachers taught, the size of their group and the kind of school in which they worked. Elementary school teachers (N = 691) mentioned whether they knew what ADHD was and if they did, wrote down their definition of ADHD. Teachers also wrote down the specific behaviors they expected from a child with ADHD and how will they treat that child during their classes. Results showed that compared with their counterparts, a greater percentage of women, teachers older than 43 years, of middle social class, that taught in fifth and sixth grades, that had small groups and that worked in private schools said they knew what ADHD was. Those teachers considered that ADHD has an organic cause, expected children to behave worse and be willing to label their students more often than their counterparts. The majority of teachers said they would use strategies such as sitting a student with ADHD next to them to foster his/her attention and to avoid distractions. Results are discussed contrasting the psychiatric and psychological approximations to abnormal behavior.

Keywords : Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Abnormal Behavior; Normal Behavior; Mental Illness; Elementary School Teachers.