Thesis (M.S.)--Wisconsin. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-l16).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1975. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of hyper-kinesis and family stress. The relevant family stress and hyperkinesis literature is reviewed. Research suggests that families containing a hyperkinetic child experience stress due to the possible lack of coping resources. Using both standardized measures and non-structured clinical interviews and observations, the coping efficiency and coping resources of five families were studied. The variables examined included parent self-concept, child-rearing attitude, family adaptability and cohesion, marital communication and parent anxiety. It was hypothesized that parents of hyperkinetic children would perceive themselves as having low self-concept, more autocratic child-rearing attitudes, poor marital communication and high anxiety. They would perceive their families as enmeshed and highly structured, and as having a depletion of coping resources. In addition to these hypotheses, a number of secondary research questions were examined. Differences between mother and father scores, and the effects of SES and the sex of child, and the family rules, alliances and triangles, on family coping were explored. Evidence of hyperactivity in the extended family was also examined. The results of the study suggest that families with hyperkinetic children lack coping resources, especially in the area of internal strengths. The families tended to perceive themselves as being disconnected and structured, and as having poor communication patterns. Parents did perceive themselves as having average self-concept, low anxiety, more democratic child-rearing attitudes and as successfully managed family life. Although the aforementioned trends were evident in the sample population, the study had a number of limitations. The sample consisted of volunteers who were found to be abnormal specimens due to SES and their membership in parenting group for parents of hyperactive children. The instrument used to assess the level of stress in the family did not accurately measure this variable. Finally, the reliance on paper and pencil measures for the data was found to be a limitation. The results from these measures were consistently contradicted by the nonstandardized measures. Further research should be done to determine the generalizability of the results of this study. Areas of concentration should be on determining more specific areas of resource deficiency, causes of marital communication problems and the impact of stress on the family sub-systems. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

published_or_final_version / Medicine / Master / Doctor of Medicine

Psychological research suggests that Ritalin reduces the rate of maladaptive behaviors in hyperactive children but does not improve their academic performance. Teachers, however, often assert that writing skills and other graphic work are improved by Ritalin. Twenty elementary school children who had been diagnosed as hyperactive and who were taking Ritalin were tested using WISC-R coding, WISC-R block design, and Bender Gestalt. Ten of the subjects were assigned to a group which was first tested when the children were off Ritalin and subsequently tested when they were on Ritalin. The sequence was reversed for the remaining ten. This procedure was designed to counterbalance the effect of practice. Direct difference t-tests indicated that there were no differences between groups regarding any of the three dependent measures. Thus, results indicate that the popular conceptions among educators regarding the efficacy of Ritalin for improving visual-motor efficiency is open to serious question.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

No description available.

xxvi, 402 leaves : tables, graphs ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychology, 1980

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1989. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-168).