School environment and ADHD-related stigma in children with ADHD

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 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. Fifth-grade students diagnosed with ADHD ( N = 71; 41 girls, 30 boys; M 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. 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. 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. • Youth with ADHD face stigma, but little is known about what factors contribute. • Schools shape youth development, yet ADHD stigma in schools is understudied. • This study links school factors to youth-reported ADHD stigma domains. • School connection and peer support associated with lower concern with public attitudes. • School connectedness associated with lower overall stigma.