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Abstract
Physical activity (PA) benefits children's cognition, in particular executive functions (EF). Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Reading Difficulties (RD) and co-occurring ADHD/RD have low levels of PA and difficulties with EF. This study evaluated a PA programme to determine recruitment, attrition, feasibility (e.g. in-school or after-school hours), intensity of PA during the programme and effect sizes. Outcomes evaluated were EF, academic attainment and social and emotional behaviour. Sixty-nine children (35 males) aged 7–13 years participated in a delayed control design. The sample comprised 15 children with RD, 15 with high levels of ADHD symptoms, 15 with co-occurring RD and ADHD symptoms and 24 typically developing children. Thirty-one of the participants took part in a 12 week PA intervention designed to enhance cognition and 38 acted as a control group. The control group subsequently received the intervention and data was combined for analysis. The study was successful in recruiting participants for the intervention; more success was observed for in-school than after-school hours. Participants spent 46% (SD = 14) of the intervention in Moderate-to-Vigorous intensity PA (MVPA). A significant effect of time-point (pre- vs. post-intervention) was found for inhibition and visuospatial working memory (η2= 0.11 and 0.18 respectively). There was no interaction with symptomatology though; all groups had higher scores on EF tasks after the intervention. It is possible to recruit and retain participants with ADHD symptoms and reading difficulties to a school- based PA programme and adherence to measurements was good. Taking part in the programme may improve inhibition and visuospatial working memory and reduce symptomatology suggesting this is a potential source of remediation which should be explored.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 254-268 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs |
Early online date | 13 Oct 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2024 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- ADHD
- children
- executive function
- physical activity intervention
- reading difficulties
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Dive into the research topics of 'Evaluation of a pilot physical activity intervention for children with ADHD symptoms and reading difficulties'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Physical Activity in Children with ADHD and Reading Difficulties: Impact on Cognition and Behaviour
1/08/16 → 30/06/22
Project: Research