Peer Relationship Problems of Children with AD/HD: Contributing Factors and Implications for Practice

Research has consistently documented that children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) have significant problems in peer relationships and are strongly rejected by their typically developing peers. There is a growing recognition that traditional interventions, such as social skills trainings are no longer sufficient to address the staggering social needs of children with AD/HD. This paper introduces new directions in interventions for children with AD/HD and advocates that multi-component interventions can be highly beneficial to ameliorate the social problems of children with the disorder. Studies examining the peer relations in children with AD/HD are reviewed and available interventions are explored. In addition, problems with the application of various interventions are discussed and suggested practices are presented.