An exploration of subjective well-being in children and adolescents with ADHD in South Africa during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

This study explores self-report ratings of overall and domain specific well-being of children and adolescents with ADHD between the ages of 10 and 18 years old (n=376) during the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa. A mixed-method, non-experimental, cross-sectional, structured survey design, using the EPOCH scale, with one additional open-ended question was done. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA’s and various post-hoc analyses were utilised for the numerical quantitative data, while the qualitative data was analysed through the creation of themed ‘I-poems’. The EPOCH scale assesses the well-being domains of engagement, perseverance, optimism, connectedness and happiness. In this study, Cronbach’s α and CFA results presented the EPOCH scale to be a reliable measure. The quantitative results further demonstrate above average well-being overall, as well as in each of the five EPOCH domains (in decreasing order): connectedness, happiness, optimism, engagement and perseverance. The qualitative findings showed broad categories of positive, negative and neutral feelings and experiences during the pandemic, encompassing themes of home, school, social, self-growth/reflection, change, rules, extra-murals, concern, loss, finances, new normal, emotions and experiences. Further quantitative results indicate no differences in well-being in terms of gender, between groups using medication or not and whether respondents receive therapy for ADHD or not. Results did indicate that respondents who did not receive therapy presented with higher levels of perseverance. Some variance occurred in the well-being levels of the different age groups, suggesting the need for nuanced understandings of well-being in this population.