Avaliação de sintomas do transtorno de déficit de atenção/hiperatividade em estudantes universitários

Abstract

The Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by a persistent, frequent and severe pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity or impulsivity. Although ADHD is chronic and interferes in several contexts of life, there are people with the disorder who can join higher education and be successful. Researchers have investigated ADHD repercussions for college experience, however, they have explained neither which dimensions of college adjustment (personal, interpersonal, study, career, and institutional) suffer greater influence by ADHD symptoms, nor if the symptoms may affect professional self-efficacy of college students. This research was divided into two studies. The first study aimed to perform a systematic review of literature about ADHD implications for college experience, highlighting the similarities and differences between students with and without the disorder concerning academic context. Students with and without ADHD are likely to present no difference regarding self-concept and psychological well-being, although they differ from each other when it comes to college adjustment and concern with academic performance. The second study aimed to test a theoretical model through path analysis, in which dimensions of college adjustment mediate the relationship between ADHD symptoms and professional self-efficacy. The participants were 510 college students from 12 courses of two public universities in Rio Grande do Sul. Data were gathered through a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS), the Academic Experiences Questionnaire reduced version (AEQ-r), and the Professional Self-Efficacy Scale (PSES). We verified that physical and psychological well-being and the establishment of a social support network may reduce the potential damages to professional self-efficacy due to the symptoms of the disorder. Implications of these results for academic routine and clinical practice are discussed in the end of the thesis.