Effects of a Group-Based Physical Activity Intervention on Resilience and Self-Esteem in Primary-School Female Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Background: It appears that the exacerbation of psychological symptoms associated with the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) necessitates the implementation of early and effective interventions. This study aimed to explore the impact of engaging in a physical activity intervention, specifically focusing on aerobic exercises, on the resilience and self-esteem of primary school girls diagnosed with ADHD.Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study. The target population included female primary school students diagnosed with ADHD in Tehran, Iran, during the academic year 2023-2024. The purposive sampling technique was used to select a total of 40 participants, who were then randomly allocated to either the experimental group (Aerobic) or the control group through a simple randomization method, with each group consisting of 20 individuals. The aerobic training program was conducted over a period of eight weeks, featuring three sessions per week. For data collection, the Davidson & Conner Resilience Questionnaire (CD-RISC) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) were used. Data analysis was carried out using paired and independent t-tests via SPSS version 27.Results: Based on the findings, the participants demonstrated a moderate body mass index (BMI), with an average of 16.8±0.48. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference in resilience scores observed between the aerobic group (54.20±11.82) and the control group (44.45±14.06) during the posttest (P=0.023). Furthermore, self-esteem scores also exhibited a significant difference between the aerobic group (16.80±3.07) and the control group (13.75±3.65) in the posttest (P=0.007).Conclusions: The results of the present study suggested that policymakers in special education should formulate strategic initiatives aimed at promoting the active participation of children with ADHD in physical activities, which could subsequently improve psychological factors such as resilience and self-esteem.