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School Psychology Review

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The Association Between Child ADHD Symptoms


and Changes in Parental Involvement in
Kindergarten Children’s Learning During COVID-19

Moira Wendel , Tessa Ritchie , Maria A. Rogers , Julia A. Ogg , Alecia M.


Santuzzi , Elizabeth C. Shelleby & Kellie Menter

To cite this article: Moira Wendel , Tessa Ritchie , Maria A. Rogers , Julia A. Ogg , Alecia M.
Santuzzi , Elizabeth C. Shelleby & Kellie Menter (2020) The Association Between Child ADHD
Symptoms and Changes in Parental Involvement in Kindergarten Children’s Learning During
COVID-19, School Psychology Review, 49:4, 466-479, DOI: 10.1080/2372966X.2020.1838233

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2020.1838233

Published online: 31 Dec 2020.

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School Psychology Review
2020, VOL. 49, NO. 4, 466–479
https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2020.1838233

SPECIAL SERIES

The Association Between Child ADHD Symptoms and Changes in Parental


Involvement in Kindergarten Children’s Learning During COVID-19
Moira Wendela, Tessa Ritchieb, Maria A. Rogersb, Julia A. Ogga, Alecia M. Santuzzia, Elizabeth C. Shellebya,
and Kellie Mentera
Northern Illinois University; bUniversity of Ottawa
a

ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY


The coronavirus pandemic 2019 (COVID-19) changed the context of schooling for both parents and Received July 31, 2020
their children. Learning at home presents new challenges for parents of young children and particularly Accepted October 12, 2020
for parents of children with behavior difficulties, such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
The current study examined changes to parent and child behavior due to COVID-19 among 4- and KEYWORDS
5-year-old children and their parents. Changes in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) ADHD, COVID-19, parent
symptoms and levels of parental involvement in children’s learning were examined. ADHD symptoms involvement, kindergarten
were also examined as a moderator of changes in parent involvement. Data were collected prior to
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
COVID-19 and several months after school closures. Results indicated that parents’ ratings of their
children’s ADHD symptoms increased from prior to COVID-19 to during COVID-19. There were few Dorothy Espelage
changes to parents’ educational involvement; however, parents’ beliefs about their responsibility to
be involved in their children’s learning changed differentially according to child gender.

IMPACT STATEMENT
The COVID-19 pandemic will likely have a profound impact on the development of young children
around the world. The current study highlights the concern of increasing attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder symptoms among kindergarteners, as rated by parents. On the other hand,
the findings from this study also demonstrate that the pandemic may not have a deleterious impact
on parents’ involvement in their children’s education.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has closures. Prior research has demonstrated significant chal-
resulted in many new challenges for children and their lenges for parenting during crises (Cobham & McDermott,
families. Of concern is the impact that the pandemic has 2014; Neppl et al., 2016), but research has not explored how
had on the development of young children. In many parents’ involvement in their children’s learning has been
regions, school closures resulted in education continuing impacted by crises. The study examined changes to parents’
under the supervision and instruction of parents. This puts perceptions of key theoretically and empirically defined
new demands on parents, and childrens most proximal constructs of parental involvement because of COVID-19.
environmenal influence on their development has shifted, Further, the purpose of the study was to examine
which may lead to changes in both child and parent behav- whether child ADHD symptoms—which have been shown
iors. Prior research suggests that family stress and hardship to relate to parental involvement in learning—moderate
can lead to increases in child problem behaviors (e.g., changes in beliefs or behaviors. Prior research has found
Conger et al., 1994). One aim of the current study was to that children’s ADHD symptoms are related to how parents
examine whether parent-reported child attention deficit view and are involved in their child’s education (e.g.,
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms (i.e., inattention Musabelliu et al., 2018; Rogers et al., 2009a, 2009b).
and hyperactivity/impulsivity) may have changed from Children’s behavior influences many aspects of parenting,
prior to the COVID-19 school closures to several months including parent involvement (Burke et al., 2008; Shelleby
into remote learning. Another purpose of the current study & Ogg, 2020). Thus, this study examined whether chil-
was to examine how beliefs and behaviors about parental dren’s ADHD symptoms affected changes in parental
involvement in kindergarten children’s learning changed involvement in young children’s learning before and
from prior to COVID-19 school closures to following the during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONTACT Moira Wendel Moira.Wendel@gmail.com Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, 1425 W LincolnHwy, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA.
© 2020 National Association of School Psychologists
COVID-19, ADHD Symptoms, and Parental Involvement 467

Child Behavior and Parental Involvement in Crises involvement has been stratified into several distinct types
of educational involvement (Epstein, 2010), parents’
Bioecological theories of child development (e.g.,
home-based involvement in children’s learning is a type
Bronfenbrenner, 1992) maintain that the larger societal
of educational involvement that is particularly associated
context (in this case, the COVID-19 pandemic) can impact
with child academic outcomes (Fantuzzo et al., 2004;
child and parent behavior, as well as family interactions.
Hoover-Dempsey et al., 2005) and is particularly relevant
From the perspective of child behavior, new research from
during the at-home learning period. Home-based involve-
China on COVID-19 suggests that there may be increased
ment constitutes parents’ participation in their child’s
levels of psychopathology in children resulting from the
learning and parent behaviors that create an environment
pandemic (i.e., anxiety and depression; Xie et al., 2020),
at home that is conducive to learning (Hoover-Dempsey
and a recent survey from Canada found that 59% of par-
& Sandler, 2005).
ents reported behavioral changes in their children, includ-
Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler’s (2005) model suggests
ing increases in outbursts and irritability (Children’s
that home-based involvement is predicted by parents’
Mental Health Ontario, 2020). However, to date, no studies
motivational beliefs and life contexts. Specifically, there
have looked at the role of the pandemic in the manifesta-
are four constructs within parents’ beliefs: self-efficacy,
tion of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in chil-
role construction, time and energy, and knowledge and
dren—symptoms that are highly prevalent in early
skills. Parent self-efficacy is parents’ beliefs in their ability
childhood (Dupaul et al., 2001) and that exert increased
to assist their child in their education. Role construction is
stress on families (Theule et al., 2013).
parents’ beliefs about their responsibility to be involved in
When considering changes to the family system during
their child’s education. Time and energy refers to parents’
times of crisis, parents’ stress is a salient factor that is
perceptions of the amount of available time and energy
directly related to the parenting system (Deater‐Deckard,
they have to be involved in their children’s education.
1998). Stressful life events and contexts are related to
Finally, knowledge and skills concerns parents’ perceptions
poorer functioning and increased psychopathology
of their knowledge of school-related topics and their skills
amongst parents (Anastopoulos et al., 1992). At times of
associated with involvement in their child’s education.
crisis, parents’ stress levels rise and parenting behaviors
These determinants of parental involvement are found to
change, resulting in poorer parent–child interactions
account for the variance in parents’ home-based involve-
(Elder & Caspi, 1988; Kelley et al., 2010). Specific to the
ment (Hoover-Dempsey & Sandler, 2005).
COVID-19 pandemic, parents have reported that the
Due to the changes to education during the COVID-19
stress from financial strain and social isolation has
crisis (Lee & Ward, 2020), it is important to consider how
impacted their parenting, and parents reported that they
parental involvement in children’s learning has changed.
have increased yelling and disciplinary practices (Lee &
For many families, school closures forced parents into a
Ward, 2020). In times of crisis, changes in parenting prac-
more proximal position to their children’s learning as they
tices can result in adverse child outcomes, such as impaired
engaged in more educational activities with their children,
cognitive development and increased problem behaviors
according to one survey (Lee & Ward, 2020). However,
(Conger et al., 1994; Hidrobo, 2014).
prior research has demonstrated that parents’ stress levels
are associated with poorer parenting practices around
Parental Involvement in Children’s Learning education (e.g., Rogers et al., 2009b). Parents who are faced
with financial burden, for example, introduce their chil-
One key aspect of parenting that has not yet received focus dren to less cognitively stimulating materials and activities
in the literature during times of crisis is parental involve- (Naudeau et al., 2011), and Waanders et al. (2007) found
ment in children’s learning. This is particularly of interest that economic stress experienced by parents is negatively
during the current crisis because of the widespread school related to parents’ home-based involvement in their chil-
closures that resulted in the need for parents to support dren’s education. Given the stress associated with the
virtual learning at home (“UNESCO” 2020). Parental COVID-19, involvement behaviors have likely changed
involvement in children’s learnings constitutes parents’ for some parents, particularly as parents try to balance
engagement beliefs and behaviors concerning their chil- working from home and homeschooling their children.
dren’s learning and education (Hoover-Dempsey & In terms of changes to parents’ motivational beliefs and
Sandler, 2005). A large body of research has substantiated life contexts during a crisis, research in this area is sparse.
the link between parental involvement and child out- Some research suggests that parenting self-efficacy for
comes, including academic achievement (Fan & Chen, helping their children learn is lower for parents with more
2001) and social and behavioral outcomes (Barger et al., neighborhood stressors, such as street crime and neigh-
2019; Fantuzzo et  al., 2004). Although parental borhood drug and alcohol use (Waanders et al., 2007), and
468 School Psychology Review, 2020, Volume 49, No. 4 DOI:10.1080/2372966X.2020.1838233

family stressful life events are negatively related to general deficits in early childhood (Bussing et al., 2010; Dupaul
parenting self-efficacy (Machida et al., 2002). Further, par- et al., 2001). Difficulties such as organizing, paying atten-
ents’ beliefs about the importance of education are associ- tion, sitting still, taking turns, and following directions
ated with parenting stress levels (Respler-Herman et al., make schooling is particularly challenging for this popu-
2012). Given the novelty of the current remote learning lation of children, even at subthreshold levels and in young
situation, the current study will provide helpful insight into children (Frazier et al., 2007; Polderman et al., 2010). Due
how a major global crisis relates to parents’ beliefs about to the difficulty in managing child behaviors, parents of
involvement in their children’s learning. children with ADHD experience more stress (Anastopoulos
Understanding parent involvement is particularly et al., 1992; Johnston & Mash, 2001), and child problem
important for kindergarten children, given that young behaviors are associated with negative interactions
children are at a particularly important developmental (Dupaul et al., 2001; Wymbs et al., 2015). Specific to
period, and the quality of their environment and interac- involvement in learning, research has indicated that par-
tions has a major impact on their development and edu- ents of children with ADHD have lower self-efficacy and
cational trajectories (Knudsen et al., 2006). Research on perceptions of available time and energy than parents of
natural disasters has demonstrated profound effects of children without ADHD (Ferretti et al., 2019; Rogers et al.,
crisis situations on development and academic growth in 2009a), and child ADHD symptoms are associated with
young children (Peek & Richardson, 2010; Scott et al., lower parental involvement in education (Fantuzzo et al.,
2014). For example, younger children may be particularly 2004; Musabelliu et al., 2018; Rogers et al., 2009b). Given
vulnerable to crisis events because they may be more sub- that child ADHD symptoms are shown to negatively
stantially impacted by parental stress (Brock et al., 2016). impact parenting (Wymbs et al., 2015) and parents of chil-
Because parents are the main sources of support for young dren with ADHD are less involved in their children’s edu-
children, parental involvement during these formative cation than parents of children without ADHD, parents
years of schooling is an important area of research. of children with higher ADHD symptoms facing addi-
Although parent involvement may change in a crisis tional stress during the pandemic may engage in worse
situation, family income often has a buffering effect on the parenting practices.
negative impact on parents and children (Silverman & La When considering possible changes to parental involve-
Greca, 2002). Because family income is related to parents’ ment during a crisis in relation to children’s behavior, it is
education level, their beliefs about their children’s school- important to consider how gender might moderate these
ing, and their involvement in their children’s schoolwork changes. Despite research suggesting the similarities in
(Davis-Kean, 2005), it is no surprise that higher parent parental involvement across gender (Garbacz et al., 2015),
education is associated with greater involvement in chil- differences in parenting and child behavior between boys
dren’s schoolwork during the COVID-19 pandemic and girls should not be ignored. From a young age, parents
(Brossard et al., 2020). Also notable is that economic inse- interact with their children differently and have different
curity is associated with negative parenting behaviors and expectations according to the child’s gender (Snow et al.,
child ADHD symptoms among Canadian parents of young 1983). Thus, increases in parent stress result in differential
children (2 to 5 years old; Kong & Phipps, 2016). Thus, reactions according to child gender, eliciting differing
family income presents as a potential moderator to the behaviors from boys versus girls. This is consistent with
changes in parent involvement beliefs and child behaviors some research suggesting that family stress has a greater
during a pandemic. impact on male externalizing behavior than female behav-
ior. For example, Stone et al. (2016) found that for young
Parental Involvement and Child ADHD children (ages 4 through 9), the bidirectional relationship
between parenting stress and externalizing problems was
Though overall levels of involvement beliefs and behaviors stronger for males than that for females. Related to this, a
may change during a crisis, child factors may predict the large body of work has demonstrated a higher impact of
degree of this change. In other words, stress may not have interparental conflict on externalizing problems for boys
a ubiquitous influence on parenting; rather, some families compared to girls (Reid & Crisafulli, 1990).
may be more at risk than others for adverse outcomes for
a variety of reasons. Namely, child ADHD symptoms, even
Contributions of the Current Study
at subclinical levels, can be particularly challenging for
parents. Symptoms of ADHD—a neurodevelopmental The purpose of the current study was to examine the
disorder marked by symptoms of inattention, hyperactiv- changes in child ADHD symptoms from before COVID-
ity, and impulsivity (American Psychiatric Association, 19 to during the pandemic, when schools have closed and
2013)—are associated with both social and academic students are learning remotely. Another purpose was to
COVID-19, ADHD Symptoms, and Parental Involvement 469

examine parenting beliefs and behaviors related to involve- less involved in their children’s education, coupled with
ment in education prior to and following the spread of a increased exposure to child behavior because of remote
global pandemic that led to school closures and remote learning and the stress associated with managing children
learning in a sample of kindergarten students. An import- with ADHD, which can lead to worsening parenting prac-
ant contribution of this study is the comparison of parental tices (Anastopoulos et al., 1992; Wymbs et al., 2015).
beliefs and behaviors before and after school closures. This
allows a careful look at what initial changes in involvement
METHOD
may have emerged as a result of the unprecedented event.
In addition, the examination of how child behavior, spe- The current project is part of a larger longitudinal research
cifically ADHD symptoms, relates to any potential changes study examining the impact of parent engagement on child
provides insight into which families may be at particular development. Data were collected prior to COVID-19 in
risk during the pandemic and specifically during remote December 2019 and January 2020 and again several
learning. Because child gender and family socioeconomic months into remote learning in May and June of 2020.
levels are also important considerations for both parent
involvement in education and child ADHD symptoms,
these variables were also considered. Kindergarten Context
The parents in this study had children enrolled in a public
kindergarten program in a large Canadian city. The pro-
RESEARCH QUESTIONS gram, which is implemented across all four public districts
1. Have parent perceptions of child ADHD symptoms in the province, is a 2-year, full-day, play-based model,
changed from before COVID-19 to during remote which is delivered 50% in English and 50% in French. The
learning? classrooms were composed of children in junior kinder-
2. Given the prior research demonstrating increased garten (age 4) and senior kindergarten (age 5), with the
behavior problems during crises and family stress age cutoff being December 31st of each school year. This
(Conger et al., 1994), along with research demon- model of kindergarten is a typical representation of the
strating increases in child psychopathology and education system in this region of Canada.
problem behaviors during COVID-19 (Children’s Worth noting, just weeks before the first parent surveys
Mental Health Ontario, 2020; Xie et al., 2020), it was were distributed in the winter, labor negotiations were
predicted that parent-rated child ADHD symptoms occurring between the elementary teachers’ union and the
will increase. province, and the unions—which included both the kinder-
3. Have parents’ motivational beliefs and involvement garten teachers and the Early Childhood Educators—began
behaviors in their children’s education changed from work-to-rule action. Although the work-to-rule had no
before COVID-19 to during remote learning? impact on the curriculum implementation or any direct
interactions with students, the teachers were instructed to
Although research shows that higher levels of family stress no longer complete administrative tasks or work activities
are associated with lower parental involvement beliefs outside of school hours. Between the winter and spring time
(Machida et al., 2002; Respler-Herman et al., 2012; Waanders points, the labor negotiations continued, with further work-
et al., 2007) and lower educational involvement behaviors to-rule action and several strike days where school was
(Naudeau et al., 2011; Rogers et al., 2009b; Waanders et al., canceled for students. In mid-March, the schools were
2007), one survey suggests that remote learning might closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained
increase parent engagement in educational activities (Lee & closed for the remainder of the school year while teachers
Ward, 2020). Because of the the novelty of the current situ- switched to virtual teaching. The extent of virtual instruc-
ation, we considered the examination of changes to parent tion the students received varied significantly depending
involvement beliefs and behaviors to be exploratory. on the school, the teacher, and the resources of the family
Do child ADHD symptom levels moderate changes in to support online learning. For instance, though some
involvement motivational beliefs and behaviors? teachers hosted online meetings with their students with
We hypothesized that child ADHD symptoms will mod- some regularity, it was not mandatory for students to attend.
erate the changes in parent involvement such that parents Other teachers opted for supplying parents with age-appro-
of children with higher ADHD symptoms will show priate educational materials (e.g., apps or games) that could
decreases in involvement from before COVID-19 to during be completed by the students in their own time. The spring
remote learning. This prediction is based on the research 2020 data collection occurred approximately 2 months after
demonstrating that parents of children with ADHD are in-person classes had ended.
470 School Psychology Review, 2020, Volume 49, No. 4 DOI:10.1080/2372966X.2020.1838233

Participants involved. Parents indicated their agreement with state-


ments related to motivational beliefs (i.e., Self-Efficacy and
The parents who participated were recruited from 32 kin-
Role Construction subscales) and life context (i.e., Time
dergarten classrooms across six schools from a large city
and Energy and Knowledge and Skills subscales) on a
in Eastern Canada. A total of 238 parents consented to
6-point Likert scale (1 = disagree very strongly to 6 = agree
participate; however, not all parents completed the surveys
very strongly). The Self-Efficacy subscale consists of five
in the winter or spring. One hundred fifty-two parents
items, such as “I know how to help my child do well in
completed the survey in the winter, and 184 completed the
school.” The Role Construction subscale consists of 10
spring survey.
items, including “I believe it is my responsibility to explain
Demographic data were collected at the first data point
tough assignments to my child.” The Time and Energy
and are presented for all participants who had inattention
subscale consists of five items, such as “I have enough time
and hyperactivity/impulsivity scores at winter and spring
and energy to communicate effectively with my child’s
(n = 113). The kindergarten classrooms are blended rooms
teacher.” The Knowledge and Skills subscale has 5 items,
with students in the first and second years of the program.
including, “I know enough about the subjects of my child’s
At the time of data collection, 45 children were in their
schoolwork to help him or her.” Good reliability has been
first year of the program (40%), and 68 were in their sec-
demonstrated in prior samples for each of these subscales:
ond year of kindergarten (60%). The average age was 4.66
Self-Efficacy (α = .78), Role Construction (α =.80), Time
(SD = 0.54, range 4–6 years). Approximately half of the
and Energy (α = .84), and Knowledge and Skills (α = .83;
children were boys (n = 54; 47%). The parents identified
Hoover-Dempsey et al., 2005).
their children’s backgrounds as White, 81%; South Asian,
6% (e.g., East Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan etc.); Chinese,
3%; Black or African Canadian, 3%; Arab, 3%; West Asian, Home-Based Involvement
1% (e.g., Iranian, Afghan, etc.), and 2% identified as other. The Family Involvement Questionnaire (Fantuzzo et al.,
Thirteen percent of parents completing the surveys 2000) Home-Based Involvement subscale was used to
were male (n = 15) and 87% were female (n = 98). The aver- measure parents’ involvement in their children’s education.
age age was 38.28 years (SD = 4.25, range 27–46 years). The The Home-Based Involvement subscale consists of 13
families primarily spoke English at home (90%), with a items asking parents about the frequency of their behav-
large majority of parents having at minimum of a bache- iors regarding their child’s learning and schooling (e.g., “I
lor’s degree (82%). The majority of parents were married spend time working with my child on number skills,” “I
(85%). The lowest income range participants reported was keep a regular morning and bedtime schedule for my
the CA$20,000–$26,999 range, and the highest was more child”). Parents indicate the frequency of their involve-
than CA$400,000 with a median income range of ment on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = rarely to 4 = always).
CA$146,000–CA$198,999. For comparison, the median The Home-Based Involvement subscale has demonstrated
income in this Canadian region for families with children good reliability (α = .85; Fantuzzo et al., 2000).
under 17 is CA$110,851 and for two-parent households it
is CA$134,794 (Statistics Canada, 2016). Child ADHD Symptoms
The ADHD Rating Scale–5 for Children and Adolescents,
Measures Home Version (ADHD RS-5; DuPaul et al., 2016) was used
to measure children’s ADHD symptom levels, as rated by
A parent survey was used to capture parent reports of their a parent. The ADHD RS-5 is an 18-item parent report mea-
beliefs about involvement in their children’s learning, their sure developed from the symptom criteria of the Diagnostic
behaviors of involvement in their children’s learning, and and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
their children’s ADHD symptoms. Parents completed the The scale consists of an Inattention subscale (nine items)
same survey in the winter before COVID-19 school clo- and a Hyperactivity/Impulsivity subscale (nine items), for
sures and again several months after schools closed due a total of 18 items. Parents indicate the frequency with
to COVID-19. which their child displayed the symptomatic behaviors of
ADHD over the past 6 months based on a 4-point Likert
Parent Beliefs About Involvement scale (1 = never or rarely to 4 = very often). Examples of child
Parents’ beliefs about involvement in their children’s edu- behaviors include “easily distracted” and “‘on the go’ acts
cation was measured with the Parent Involvement Project as if ‘driven by a motor.’” The ADHD RS-5 has demon-
Questionnaire (Hoover-Dempsey et al., 2005). Four sub- strated good reliability for both the Inattention (α = .95)
scales were used to assess the various dimensions of par- and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity (α = .83; DuPaul et al., 2016)
ents’ underlying motivation and perceived ability to be subscales. Good construct validity for the ADHD RS-5 has
COVID-19, ADHD Symptoms, and Parental Involvement 471

also been demonstrated, with high correlations with the All participants were nested in classrooms and schools;
Conner’s Parent Rating Scale (DuPaul et al., 2016). thus, intraclass correlations (ICCs) were examined for
classrooms and schools. The ICCs at the classroom level
ranged from 0% to 24.0% (most under 10%); however, no
Procedure ICCs were significant. In addition, no design effects sur-
Ethics approval was given from the university’s ethics passed the threshold of 2 (Peugh, 2010). At the school level,
review board as well as the local school district’s research ICCs ranged from 0% to 11.2%, and none were significant.
review committee. All students in kindergarten at the six There were two design effects at the school level greater
participating schools were sent home with a research con- than 2. Thus, to account for the nested structure of the
sent package, which included detailed information about data, school was included in all analyses as a covariate.
the longitudinal research study. The consent packages
requested permission not only for the parent surveys but
RESULTS
for academic testing to be completed in school, as well as
teacher surveys to be completed about the child. The con- Descriptive statistics displayed in Table 1 show the mean
sent package informed parents that the study was collect- and standard deviation of each measure from the winter
ing information twice a year, from kindergarten to Grade data collection. The mean levels of ADHD symptoms fell
2. The exclusionary criteria of a previous diagnosis of an at the midpoint between never (1) and sometimes (2). To
intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder was gain insight into the frequency of clinical levels of ADHD
outlined, as well as a request that all participants be profi- symptoms, we also examined the number of child partic-
cient in English. ipants at each time point who had parent-rated ADHD
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the only data symptoms above the 90th percentile. In the winter, 8 par-
collected during the winter and the spring were the parent ticipants (7%) were above the 90th percentile for ADHD
surveys. Child academic testing was completed in the win- scores, and in the spring, 13 participants (12%) were above
ter, but because of COVID-19, no spring testing was the 90th percentile for ADHD scores.
administered. The child academic testing data were not Correlations between key variables in the spring showed
used in the current study. Surveys were either complete that parent beliefs were positively associated with each
online or on paper. Two reminder emails were sent to par- other. Home-based involvement was also associated with
ents who had not yet completed the survey. all parental involvement beliefs. Child levels of inattention
showed a significant and negative association with paren-
tal self-efficacy and knowledge and skills. Child levels of
Analyses hyperactivity/impulsivity were negatively associated with
A repeated measures general linear model was analyzed all parental involvement beliefs.
to examine within-person changes in parents’ ratings of
child inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity from win- Changes in Child ADHD Symptoms
ter (pre-pandemic) to spring (during the pandemic and
remote learning). In addition, a repeated measures general To determine whether the within-child changes in parents’
linear model was analyzed to examine within-parent perceptions of child ADHD symptoms from prior to and
changes in parent involvement variables in the winter and during the pandemic were significant, repeated measures
spring. Child symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/ general linear models were examined for both inattention
impulsivity, child gender, and family income were exam- and hyperactivity/impulsivity. There was a significant
ined as moderators of changes in parent involvement. We main effect, or within-person change, from winter to
report the eta squared as an estimate of the size of effects. spring for Inattention, F(1, 107) = 8.49, p = .00; η2 = .07.
We used Cohen’s (1988) benchmarks to define small (η2 There was also a significant within-person change in levels
= .01), medium (η2 = .06), and large (η2 = .14) effects. of hyperactivity/impulsivity from winter to spring, F(1,
Only participants with parental involvement data on 107) = 5.38, p = .02; η2 = .05.
for both winter and spring on the parent involvement vari-
ables were retained for the primary analyses given the
Changes in Parent Involvement and Child ADHD
focus on within-person change from before and following
Symptoms as Moderators
the pandemic. There were 106 to 107 parents who com-
pleted the parent involvement beliefs and behaviors at both To determine whether the within-parent change in parent
time points, and 113 parents completed both the inatten- involvement variables from prior to and during the pan-
tion and hyperactivity/impulsivity ratings (see Table 1). demic were significant, as well as whether child
472 School Psychology Review, 2020, Volume 49, No. 4 DOI:10.1080/2372966X.2020.1838233

Table 1.  Descriptives and Correlations for Key Variables


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
1. Self-Efficacy wintera .88
2. Self-Efficacy springa .66** .85
3. Role Construction wintera .23* .27* .78
4. Role Construction springa .17 .32** .70** .79
5. Time and Energy wintera .37** .54** .63** .55** .81
6. Time and Energy springa .25* .52** .47** .62** .75** .87
7. Knowledge and Skills .57** .53** .40** .22* .52** .35** .73
wintera
8. Knowledge and Skills .27* .50** .32** .36** .42** .51** .62** .72
springa
9. Home-Based Involvement .22* .37** .49** .42** .55** .44** .37** .31** .85
winterb
10. Home-Based Involvement .25* .52** .49** .58** .48** .55** .30** .40** .69** .86
springb
11. Inattentive symptoms −.51** −.38** −.02 −.07 −.18 −.05 −.25* −.27** .03 .04 .92
winterc
12. Inattention symptoms −.55** −.54** −.11 −.18 −.26** −.15 −.28** −.17 .00 −.04 .79** .89
springc
13. Hyperactivity/impulsivity −.44** −.32** −.01 −.06 −.19 −.09 −.22* −.21* .00 .00 .78** .67** .89
symptoms winterc
14. Hyperactivity/impulsivity −.39** −.44** −.12 −.21* −.38** −.27* −.21* −.22* −.06 −.07 .63** .71** .74** .89
springc
15. Family income .12 .01 −.14 −.09 .08 −.14 .04 .03 −.13 −.13 −.22* −.17 −.13 −.13
n 107 107 107 107 107 107 107 106 106 113 113 113 113 113
Winter mean (SD) 4.82 (.86)4.69 (.83)4.88 (.56)4.63 (.80)4.39 (.91)5.07 (.67)5.08 (.57)2.97 (.48)3.02 (.50)1.56 (.57)1.71 (.53)1.61 (.55)1.70 (.59)—
Note.aScores for parenting involvement beliefs (Self-Efficacy, Role Construction, Time and Energy, Knowledge and Skills) ranged from 1 (disagree very strongly) to 6
(agree very strongly).
b
Scores for Home-Based Involvement ranged from 1 (rarely) to 4 (always).
c
Scores on child inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms ranged from 1 (never or rarely) to 4 (very often).
p < .05. **p < .01; alphas for each measure are on the diagonal in italics.
*

inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity moderated associated with parental role construction. Although there
these changes, repeated measures general linear models was not a significant within-person change from winter to
were examined. Specifically, separate models were run spring for parent’s role construction, this change was mod-
for each parent involvement variable (i.e., Self-Efficacy, erated by gender. This moderation is visually represented
Role Construction, Time and Energy, Knowledge and in Figure 1 and represents a small effect. For boys, there
Skills) with each symptom of ADHD (i.e., inattention and was a slight increase in parents’ role construction scores
hyperactivity/impulsivity). Child gender and family from winter (M = 4.68; SD = 0.54) to spring (M = 4.71;
income were also included in all models. In addition, a SD = 0.58). For girls, the scores of role construction were
dummy variable for the school variable was included to higher, but there was a slight decline in scores from winter
control for nesting. The results are presented in Table 2 (M = 5.06; SD = 0.51) to spring (M = 4.90; SD = 0.53).
(models with inattention) and Table 3 (models with
hyperactivity/impulsivity).
Time and Energy
Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity demonstrated a
Self-Efficacy negative between-person association with parents’ percep-
For parent self-efficacy, inattention (see Table 2) and tion of their time and energy. Parents’ perception of their
hyperactivity/impulsivity (see Table 3) demonstrated a time and energy for involvement did not demonstrate a
between-person association with self-efficacy. Correlation within-person change from winter to spring.
coefficients demonstrated that both inattention and hyper-
activity/impulsivity were negatively associated with paren-
tal self-efficacy for educational involvement. There was no Knowledge and Skills
significant within-person change in parental self-efficacy Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity demonstrated
from winter to spring. a between-person association with parents’ knowledge
and skills. Specifically, ADHD symptoms were negatively
Role Construction associated with parents’ perceptions of their knowledge
Hyperactivity/impulsivity (but not inattention) demon- and skills to support their child’s education. There was
strated a between-person association with parents’ role not a significant within-person change in parents’ knowl-
construction. Hyperactivity/impulsivity was negatively edge and skills.
COVID-19, ADHD Symptoms, and Parental Involvement 473

Table 2. Changes in Parent Involvement Beliefs and Behavior and Table 3. Changes in Parent Involvement Beliefs and Behavior
Child Inattention, Child Gender, and Family Income and Child Hyperactivity/Impulsivity, Child Gender, and Family
F p Value η2 Income
Model 1: Parent self-efficacy and child inattention symptoms F p Value η2
Between-person effects Model 1: Parent self-efficacy and child hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms
 Child inattention symptoms 41.62 .00* .34 Between-person effects
 Child gender 0.89 .35 .01  Child hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms 12.65 .00* .13
  Family income 0.00 .96 .00  Child gender 1.17 .28 .01
Within-parent change in parent self-efficacy 0.47 .49 .00   Family income 0.12 .73 .00
  Moderator: Child inattention symptoms 0.21 .65 .00 Within-parent change in parent self-efficacy 1.61 .21 .01
  Moderator: Child gender 0.33 .57 .00   Moderator: Child hyperactivity/impulsivity 0.17 .68 .00
  Moderator: Family income 0.35 .56 .00   Moderator: Child gender 0.54 .47 .00
Model 2: Parent role construction and child inattention symptoms   Moderator: Family income 0.48 .49 .00
Between-person effects Model 2: Parent role construction and child hyperactivity/impulsivity
 Child inattention symptoms 2.52 .12 .03 symptoms
 Child gender 2.71 .10 .03 Between-person effects
  Family income 0.09 .76 .00  Child hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms 5.26 .02* .06
Within-parent change in parent role construction 0.19 .67 .00  Child gender 2.19 .14 .02
  Moderator: Child inattention symptoms 0.81 .37 .01   Family income 0.13 .72 .00
  Moderator: Child gender 5.84 .02* .03 Within-parent change in parent role construction 0.20 .68 .00
  Moderator: Family income 0.34 .56 .00   Moderator: Child hyperactivity/impulsivity 0.92 .34 .01
Model 3: Parent time and energy and child inattention symptoms   Moderator: Child gender 5.96 .02* .04
Between-person effects   Moderator: Family income 0.35 .56 .00
 Child inattention symptoms 4.78 .03* .05 Model 3: Parent time and energy and child hyperactivity/impulsivity
 Child gender 2.84 .10 .03 symptoms
  Family income 0.44 .51 .01 Between-person effects
Within-parent change in parent time and energy 0.01 .92 .00  Child hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms 15.70 .00* .16
  Moderator: Child inattention symptoms 0.88 .35 .01  Child gender 1.93 .17 .02
  Moderator: Child gender 1.44 .24 .01   Family income 0.69 .41 .01
  Moderator: Family income 0.02 .90 .00 Within-parent change in parent time and energy 0.11 .74 .00
Model 4: Parent knowledge and skills and child inattention symptoms   Moderator: Child hyperactivity/impulsivity 0.37 .54 .00
Between-person effects   Moderator: Child gender 1.51 .22 .01
 Child inattention symptoms 10.96 .00* .12   Moderator: Family income 0.03 .86 .00
 Child gender 0.00 .98 .00 Model 4: Parent knowledge and skills and child hyperactivity/impulsivity
  Family income 0.59 .45 .01 symptoms
Within-parent change in parent knowledge and 0.18 .67 .00 Between-person effects
skills  Child hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms 6.87 .01* .08
  Moderator: Child inattention symptoms 1.16 .28 .01  Child gender 0.00 .99 .00
  Moderator: Child gender 0.74 .39 .01   Family income 0.75 .39 .01
  Moderator: Family income 0.22 .64 .00 Within-parent change in parent knowledge and 0.04 .84 .00
Model 5: Parent home-based involvement and child inattention symptoms skills
Between-person effects   Moderator: Child hyperactivity/impulsivity 0.02 .90 .00
 Child inattention symptoms 0.32 .57 .00   Moderator: Child gender 1.03 .31 .01
 Child gender 8.97 .00* .10   Moderator: Family income 0.12 .73 .00
  Family income 0.34 .56 .00 Model 5: Parent home-based involvement and child hyperactivity/impulsivity
Within-parent change in parent home-based 0.82 .37 .01 symptoms
involvement Between-person effects
  Moderator: Child inattention symptoms 0.23 .64 .00  Child hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms 0.04 .84 .00
  Moderator: Child gender 0.01 .95 .00  Child gender 8.09 .01* .09
  Moderator: Family income 0.01 .92 .00   Family income 0.41 .52 .00
Note.*Significant at p < .05; child symptoms in the spring were tested as the Within-parent change in parent home-based 0.81 .37 .01
moderator. involvement
  Moderator: Child hyperactivity/impulsivity 0.22 .64 .00
  Moderator: Child gender 0.01 .93 .00
  Moderator: Family income 0.01 .92 .00
Home-Based Involvement Note.*Significant at p < .05; child symptoms in the spring were tested as the
Gender demonstrated a between-person association with moderator.
parent’s home-based involvement. Parents of boys
reported Home-Based Involvement means of 2.93
(SD = 0.53) and 2.89 (SD = 0.53) in the winter and spring, involvement in education beliefs in behavior from the
respectively, whereas parents of girls reported means of winter—prior to the COVID-19 pandemic—to the spring,
3.04 (winter, SD = 0.49) and 3.06 (spring, SD = 0.47). There following the shift to remote learning in a sample of pre-K
were no significant within-person changes in parents’ lev- and kindergarten students. The results indicated that there
els of home-based involvement from winter to spring. were within-person changes in parent-rated child inatten-
tion and hyperactivity/impulsivity from winter to spring.
However, there were no significant within-person changes
DISCUSSION
in parental involvement beliefs and behaviors from prior
The purpose of the current study was to examine changes to the pandemic and following the pandemic. The only
in children’s levels of ADHD symptoms and parent exception was role construction, and the change in this
474 School Psychology Review, 2020, Volume 49, No. 4 DOI:10.1080/2372966X.2020.1838233

Figure 1.  Parental Role Construction for Boys and Girls From Fall changes in parenting behaviors during a crisis—such as
(Pre-pandemic) to Spring (During Pandemic). increased harsh punishment (Neppl et al., 2016)—may not
parallel the changes in parental involvement in learning.
That is, parental involvement in learning may demonstrate
different patterns of change during a crisis than other par-
enting behaviors. Further, COVID-19 is a unique crisis with
substantial repercussions for children’s education. The
extant research on parental involvement in learning has
examined adversities, such as parental stress and economic
stress (e.g., Rogers et al., 2009b), that are qualitatively dif-
ferent from the unprecedented circumstances and stressors
caused by a global pandemic. Although it is assumed that
COVID-19 has brought about changes to parenting, there
are few studies examining changes to parental involvement
in learning due to COVID-19. One survey (Lee & Ward,
variable depended on child gender. For boys, parents 2020) indicated that parents have increased the amount of
reported an increase in their beliefs that supporting their educational activities they engage in with their children due
child’s education was part of their responsibility; however, to COVID-19, but the characteristics of the sample—that
for girls, the opposite was true such that parents of girls is, diverse race/ethnicity, lower household income, and
reported a decrease in their role construction beliefs. The children of various ages—are different from the current
results of the study also demonstrated that child inatten- sample. Indeed, family income, race/ethnicity, and child
tion and hyperactivity/impulsivity were negatively associ- age are traits of the current sample that may explain the
ated with parental involvement beliefs (inattention with stability of parent involvement beliefs and behaviors in their
self-efficacy; hyperactivity/impulsivity with self-efficacy, children’s education. Additionally, the ways in which par-
role construction, and time and energy); however, inat- ents have increased their involvement in learning (such as
tention and hyperactivity/impulsivity did not moderate supervising online meetings) are not well represented in
any changes in parent involvement from winter to spring. the surveys used in the current study. Nevertheless, the fact
There was a significant within-person change in ADHD that parents did not decrease in their beliefs of self-efficacy,
symptoms from prior to and during COVID-19, with aver- time and energy, and knowledge and skills is promising,
age parent ratings of symptoms of both inattention and because these variables are more associated with involve-
hyperactivity/impulsivity higher following the pandemic. ment behaviors and positive child educational outcomes
The disruption to routines and lost opportunities for phys- (Hoover-Dempsey et al., 2005). Still, data were collected
ical activity may explain the increase in ADHD symptoms. just a few months into remote learning, and parents’ per-
A substantial body of research has found that physical activ- ceptions and behaviors may change with more time at home
ity is useful to manage ADHD symptoms (Hoza et al., with their children.
2016), and routine, stability, and consistency are particularly The stability of parental involvement may be a repre-
important for children with behavioral problems (Harris sentation of a sample of mainly White parents with a
et al., 2014). The loss of consistent schedules, recesses, gym higher income and may not represent minorities and fam-
class, extracurricular sports, and all access to public parks ilies with lower incomes. For families of higher income
including play structures has led to more sedentary behav- levels, crises have less of an impact on both parents and
iors and decreased consistency and structure (Bates et al., children (Silverman & La Greca, 2002). Further, lower
2020), which may be responsible for increased symptoms income and minority status are associated with lower edu-
of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. It is also pos- cational involvement (e.g., Davis-Kean, 2005; Weiss et al.,
sible that because parents are spending more time with their 2009) and greater child behavior problems (Marcal, 2020).
children focused on academic work, they are more aware Moreover, White parents are less likely to be essential
of their children’s difficulties with sustaining attention or workers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018), enabling
being hyperactive and impulsive. them more opportunities to work from home during
The findings related to the stability of parent involve- COVID-19. Therefore, given the mainly White, higher
ment beliefs and behavior are somewhat inconsistent with income sample, parents’ stress levels during COVID-19
the prior research that has demonstrated changes in par- may have remained similar to their baseline levels, and the
enting behaviors during times of crises. However, research transition to home learning may not have been a substan-
examining parent involvement in education is limited, and tial burden for this sample.
COVID-19, ADHD Symptoms, and Parental Involvement 475

The age of the children in this study may also explain the activity, and increased opportunities for parents to observe
stability of parents’ involvement. Although parental involve- their children’s behavior during academics. Given the ongo-
ment tends to decrease as children progress through ele- ing pandemic and the reality that students will continue to
mentary school (Garbacz et al., 2015; Pomerantz et al., be engaging in remote learning in the upcoming school
2007), curricular instruction for young children is more year, school psychologists can support parents by providing
attainable for parents (e.g., Hoover-Dempsey et al., 1995), ideas and coaching to increase structure and to incorporate
and parents may not need to change their educational healthy routines into the day. Recommendations and
involvement role to align with their educational experience resources for engaging children in physical activity during
when in school. This is particularly relevant considering the quarantine (e.g., Hammami et al., 2020) may prove useful
nature of play-based curriculum, in which learning is driven for managing child ADHD symptoms.
by child-led exploration and less dependent on direct aca- The results also suggest that some parents have main-
demic instruction from teachers. Further, some research on tained the same levels of beliefs regarding their abilities
natural disasters shows that crises may have a greater impact and resources to support their children’s education.
on older children than younger children, especially when Although this is positive, it should not be considered to
the younger children do not understand the threat (Dogan- apply to all youth, and additional research is warranted.
Ates, 2010). Thus, parents of this sample may not need to Specifically, for families with more limited resources, the
address the additional barriers to educational involvement toll of remote school on top of other stressors due to the
that are present among older children during a crisis. pandemic may create challenges in parents’ beliefs and
The one change to educational involvement was parents’ behaviors around supporting their children’s education.
role construction, or their beliefs about their responsibility Having the knowledge that not all families will be adversely
to be involved in their children’s schooling, and this increased impacted when it comes to supporting their children’s
for boys but decreased for girls. Pomerantz et al. (2007) sug- education can help school psychologists target their efforts
gested that girls may not require as much parent involvement to those who may be most at risk. Continued research is
because they are more disciplined and higher achieving than needed to best identify families in need of support.
boys, even in kindergarten (e.g., Freeman, 2004). Males also
tend to display more externalizing behaviors (Kristoffersen Limitations
& Smith, 2013). Thus, this finding might reflect differences
in male versus female behaviors and parents’ increased expo- Several limitations should be noted for the current study.
sure to their children’s behaviors due to COVID-19. Notably, Participants completed surveys at two time points (i.e.,
despite the changes in role beliefs, changes in home educa- prior to and during COVID-19), which was a strength of
tional involvement practices were not present. the current study in that it enabled testing individual
Although symptoms of ADHD were associated with changes within participants. However, this required par-
parent involvement beliefs, the current study demon- ticipants to be excluded from the analyses if they did not
strated that inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity were complete the surveys at both time points, resulting in a
not related to the degree of change from winter to spring relatively small sample size and possible self-selection bias.
in parent involvement beliefs or behaviors. This finding is Another limitation was the homogeneity of ethnicity and
aligned with research suggesting that ADHD symptoms race. Research has indicated that marginalized groups are
are associated with lower parent involvement (Fantuzzo impacted more by COVID-19 (Centers for Disease Control
et al., 2004). However, when considering changes to parent and Prevention, 2020), and thus more research is needed
involvement due to COVID-19, the findings suggest that to examine how parent involvement in education varies
although ADHD symptoms are associated with less posi- across populations during the pandemic.
tive parent involvement beliefs, symptoms of inattention Another limitation of the current study was that the
and hyperactivity/impulsivity did not put families at first round of data collection occurred while the teacher’s
greater risk for positive or negative changes in parent union was in phases 1 and 2 of their work-to-rule strike
involvement beliefs and behaviors during the pandemic. action. Though teachers were not instructed to modify
their interactions with students or parents, the parents
themselves may have altered their beliefs about how they
Implications
should be interacting with the school and their child’s
The current study suggests that parents perceived higher teacher in response to the contract negotiations. For
levels of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity in their example, for some parents the labor negotiations may
children during the pandemic compared to prior to the have created a reluctance to participate in some school
pandemic. This may be a result of reduced structure during activities to avoid crossing the picket line or, conversely,
remote learning versus school, reduced levels of physical some parents may have felt an increased responsibility
476 School Psychology Review, 2020, Volume 49, No. 4 DOI:10.1080/2372966X.2020.1838233

to participate in their child’s education because they felt Psychopathology from Childhood Through Adolescence.
a responsibility to further support the schools. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36(5), 679–692.
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Predictors of Children’s Academic Achievement: Relations
to Children’s ADHD Symptoms and Parenting Stress. School AUTHOR BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENTS
Mental Health, 1(2), 89–102. https://doi.org/10.1007/
s12310-009-9010-0 Moira J. Wendel, BA, is a PhD student of school psychology at
Scott, B. G., Lapré, G. E., Marsee, M. A., & Weems, C. F. (2014). Northern Illinois University. Her research interests include
Aggressive Behavior and Its Associations With Posttraumatic attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and social–emotional
Stress and Academic Achievement Following a Natural learning.
Disaster. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology : Tessa Ritchie, MSc, is currently a second-year doctoral student
The Official Journal for the Society of Clinical Child and in the Clinical Psychology Program at the University of
Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Ottawa. She holds a master’s degree in school and applied child
Division 53, 43(1), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416. psychology from the University of Calgary. Tessa’s research
2013.807733 interests include the early social and cognitive development of
Shelleby, E. C., & Ogg, J. (2020). Longitudinal Relationships children with ADHD and the contextual factors that help sup-
Between Parent Involvement, Parental Warmth, ADHD port positive outcomes for children with early ADHD
Symptoms, and Reading Achievement. Journal of Attention symptomatology.
Disorders, 24(5), 737–749. https://doi.org/10.1177/108705
4719859075 Dr. Maria Rogers, PhD, is an associate professor in the School
Silverman, W. K., & La Greca, A. M. (2002). Children experienc- of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Rogers holds a
ing disasters: Definitions, reactions, and predictors of outcomes. PhD in school and clinical child psychology from the University
In A. M. La Greca, W. K. Silverman, E. M. Vernberg, & M. C. of Toronto and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Toronto’s
Roberts (Eds.), Helping children cope with disasters and ter- Hospital for Sick Children and McGill University. Dr. Rogers
rorism. (p. 11–33). American Psychological Association. has broad interests in the social–emotional and academic devel-
https://doi.org/10.1037/10454-001 opment of youth with ADHD across the childhood and adoles-
Snow, M. E., Jacklin, C. N., & Maccoby, E. E. (1983). Sex-of- cent period. She is particularly interested in how parents and
child differences in father–child interaction at one year of teachers interact with children with ADHD regarding learning
age. Child Development, 54(1), 227–232. https://doi. and school-related issues. Dr. Rogers is also a registered psy-
org/10.2307/1129880 chologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and the
Statistics Canada (2016). August). 2016 Census of Population, Ordre des psychologues du Québec and has worked clinically
Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-400-X2015240/98- with children, teachers, and families in several school boards,
400-X2016388/98-400-X2016104/98-400-X2016077 [Table]. clinics, and hospitals in Ontario and Québec.
COVID-19, ADHD Symptoms, and Parental Involvement 479

Julia Ogg, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of development of child disruptive behavior problems, preven-
Psychology at Northern Illinois University. Her research inter- tive interventions for at-risk populations, parenting practices,
ests include understanding how parent–child and teacher–child early child emotion regulation, and the influence of contextual
relationships relate to the early development of self-regulatory stressors on child mental health. Her work on preventive
and externalizing behaviors. interventions explores intervention moderators and mecha-
nisms of change. One line of inquiry she has pursued in the
Alecia M. Santuzzi, PhD, is an associate professor of psychol-
area of contextual stressors focuses on the intersection
ogy in the Social–Industrial/Organizational Psychology area
between family economic stress and children’s behavioral
and director of research methodology services at Northern
development.
Illinois University. She has been conducting and publishing
research on disability in the workplace, with an emphasis on
Kellie Menter, MA, is currently a second-year doctoral student in
improving the occupational health and well-being for workers
the School Psychology Program at Northern Illinois University.
with disabilities. She also serves as an expert in methodology
She holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from the
and data analysis for complex data structures.
University of Central Florida. Kellie’s research interests include
Elizabeth C. Shelleby’s, PhD, research is informed by a devel- teachers’ experience of burnout and the individual and organiza-
opmental psychopathology perspective and focuses on the tional factors that are associated with its development.

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