Promising effect of a family rugby programme for children with ADHD: Promoting parent-child relationship and perceptual change on child's behaviors

Abstract

Background and purpose: This study explored the effectiveness of a family-based rugby programme to improve the parent-child relationship for children with ADHD and their parents.

Materials and methods: A total of 17 Chinese families (12 fathers and 13 mothers) of children (in early primary grades) with ADHD participated in this study. Mixed methods, including questionnaires, parent focus groups, parental reflective journals, and interviews with children, were adopted.

Results: Quantitative data suggested a trend of parental perceptual change on their children's ADHD behaviors. Thematic analysis on the qualitative data further suggested the family rugby programme served as "a family play context" that helped promote parent-child relationship for the Chinese children with ADHD and their parents. Participating children experienced "a different self" and better self-control when playing rugby.

Conclusion: There is a promising effect of the use of rugby as an alternative family-based approach for children with ADHD and their parents.

Keywords: Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD); Chinese families; Family-based programmes; Rugby; Sports participation.