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School Environment and ADHD-Related Stigma in Children with ADHD

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Title: School Environment and ADHD-Related Stigma in Children with ADHD
Language: English
Authors: Stephen P. Becker (ORCID 0000-0001-9046-5183), Sarah A. Miller (ORCID 0000-0002-6341-5946), Grace M. Bartholomae (ORCID 0009-0008-2517-1398), Elizabeth E. Kronthal (ORCID 0009-0007-1011-3884), R. Elizabeth Capps (ORCID 0000-0002-6978-1728), Melissa R. Dvorsky (ORCID 0000-0002-3790-1334)
Source: Grantee Submission. 2026.
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 26
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R324A240155
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Grade 5
Intermediate Grades
Middle Schools
Descriptors: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Students with Disabilities, Educational Environment, Attitudes toward Disabilities, Social Bias, Elementary School Students, Grade 5, Teacher Student Relationship, Peer Relationship, Individual Characteristics, Student School Relationship
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence
DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107075
Abstract: Background: Schools may be one of the first contexts in which youth experience public stigma towards people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), yet research has yet to examine whether school environment factors relate to ADHD-related stigma in late-elementary students with ADHD. This study examined aspects of school environment -- including school climate, connectedness, and support -- in relation to ADHD-related stigma in students with ADHD. Methods: Fifth-grade students diagnosed with ADHD (N = 71; 41 girls, 30 boys; M[subscript age] = 10.62) completed measures assessing school climate, school connectedness, and school support (including teacher-student relationship and peer support), in addition to a multi-dimensional measure of ADHD stigma. Results: Overall ratings of ADHD stigma were low, with disclosure concerns rated higher than negative self-image which in turn was rated higher than concern with public attitude. In regression analyses controlling for previous ADHD diagnosis, medication use, child opportunity index, race, and sex, higher school connectedness and peer support were associated with significantly lower concern with public attitudes. Higher school connectedness was also associated with significantly lower overall ADHD stigma. Conclusion: These preliminary findings indicate that school environment factors may be important yet understudied in ADHD-related stigma. Future research in larger samples with a longitudinal design that can examine the progression of ADHD stigma across development, temporal associations of factors that predict ADHD stigma over time, as well as mechanisms and moderators are warranted. [This paper was published in "Acta Psychologica" v267 Article 107075 2026.]
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED680647
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Report
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  Data: School Environment and ADHD-Related Stigma in Children with ADHD
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stephen+P%2E+Becker%22">Stephen P. Becker</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9046-5183">0000-0001-9046-5183</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sarah+A%2E+Miller%22">Sarah A. Miller</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6341-5946">0000-0002-6341-5946</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Grace+M%2E+Bartholomae%22">Grace M. Bartholomae</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2517-1398">0009-0008-2517-1398</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elizabeth+E%2E+Kronthal%22">Elizabeth E. Kronthal</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1011-3884">0009-0007-1011-3884</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22R%2E+Elizabeth+Capps%22">R. Elizabeth Capps</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6978-1728">0000-0002-6978-1728</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Melissa+R%2E+Dvorsky%22">Melissa R. Dvorsky</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3790-1334">0000-0002-3790-1334</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Grantee+Submission%22"><i>Grantee Submission</i></searchLink>. 2026.
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  Data: 26
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Intermediate+Grades%22">Intermediate Grades</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attention+Deficit+Hyperactivity+Disorder%22">Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Students+with+Disabilities%22">Students with Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Environment%22">Educational Environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitudes+toward+Disabilities%22">Attitudes toward Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Bias%22">Social Bias</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Student+Relationship%22">Teacher Student Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Relationship%22">Peer Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Individual+Characteristics%22">Individual Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+School+Relationship%22">Student School Relationship</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Wechsler+Abbreviated+Scale+of+Intelligence%22">Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107075
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Background: Schools may be one of the first contexts in which youth experience public stigma towards people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), yet research has yet to examine whether school environment factors relate to ADHD-related stigma in late-elementary students with ADHD. This study examined aspects of school environment -- including school climate, connectedness, and support -- in relation to ADHD-related stigma in students with ADHD. Methods: Fifth-grade students diagnosed with ADHD (N = 71; 41 girls, 30 boys; M[subscript age] = 10.62) completed measures assessing school climate, school connectedness, and school support (including teacher-student relationship and peer support), in addition to a multi-dimensional measure of ADHD stigma. Results: Overall ratings of ADHD stigma were low, with disclosure concerns rated higher than negative self-image which in turn was rated higher than concern with public attitude. In regression analyses controlling for previous ADHD diagnosis, medication use, child opportunity index, race, and sex, higher school connectedness and peer support were associated with significantly lower concern with public attitudes. Higher school connectedness was also associated with significantly lower overall ADHD stigma. Conclusion: These preliminary findings indicate that school environment factors may be important yet understudied in ADHD-related stigma. Future research in larger samples with a longitudinal design that can examine the progression of ADHD stigma across development, temporal associations of factors that predict ADHD stigma over time, as well as mechanisms and moderators are warranted. [This paper was published in "Acta Psychologica" v267 Article 107075 2026.]
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        Value: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107075
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 26
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Students with Disabilities
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Environment
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      – SubjectFull: Attitudes toward Disabilities
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      – SubjectFull: Social Bias
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      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
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      – SubjectFull: Grade 5
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Student Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Peer Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Individual Characteristics
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      – SubjectFull: Student School Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence
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      – TitleFull: School Environment and ADHD-Related Stigma in Children with ADHD
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