Abstract
Objective:
The objective of the study was to compare the quality of life measures obtained from newly diagnosed subjects with ADHD and healthy controls.
Methods:
The sample consisted of 44 subjects with ADHD and 40 healthy controls. We used Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), which was reported to be valid and reliable in Turkish. Healthy control subjects were selected from the sample of another study which was randomly selected from schools.
Results:
Results showed that in the parent indicated lower PedsQL scores in their ADHD children than controls suggesting that ADHD significantly affected all scale scores. In the child form, ADHD group had significantly lower School Functioning Score (SchFS), Psychosocial Health Summary Score (PsychoSS), and Total Scale Score (TSS). Physical Health Summary Score (PSS), PsychoSS and TTS were significantly correlated in child and parent forms.
Discussion:
Results showed that ADHD had a negative effect on almost all areas of functioning, implicating that rehabilitation efforts must target not only school but also other areas of functioning.
Keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, quality of life, children
