Does Social Skills Training Work for ADHD?

A study revealed a slight improvement in social skills among children with ADHD after they participated in social skills training. Yet, this enhancement wasn't large enough to be considered meaningful in daily social interactions or life quality. The research involved comparing social skills training with either no action or a wait-list control group, focusing on children and adolescents with ADHD. It looked at how the training influenced various outcomes, including social skills. Although there was a minor increase in social skills, the study concluded that social skills training's impact on children with ADHD is not significant enough to affect their real-world social functioning.

An examination of ADHD treatments showed that over two years, all treatments led to improved social functioning. This study, involving a randomized controlled trial, compared medication alone with medication plus skills training over two years in children aged 7-9. The findings indicated a significant boost in social functioning and a reduction in both positive and negative behaviors over time. However, it also found that adding social skills training to medication did not offer extra benefits in social functioning compared to medication alone.

Children with ADHD face more social and communication difficulties than their peers, particularly if they also have disorders like Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) or Conduct Disorder (CD). These social issues can strain family and peer relationships, impacting emotional well-being and leading to behavioral problems. This underscores the need for effective interventions to address the social challenges experienced by children with ADHD.

Research has highlighted a significant impact of ADHD on social performance, emphasizing the challenges individuals face in applying social skills in various situations. This distinction between learning social skills and applying them can help refine intervention approaches. The study used a social behavioral analysis framework to assess social skills acquisition and performance deficits in children with ADHD, compared to those without the condition. The findings suggest that children with ADHD mainly struggle with consistently applying social skills, indicating a need for targeted interventions focusing on social performance.

Social performance deficits involve difficulties in correctly using social skills in different situations, like knowing what to say or how to act around others. It's akin to understanding the rules of a game but not being able to play it well during the game. This definition helps clarify the concept of social performance deficits in ADHD, emphasizing the gap between knowing social skills and applying them in real-life interactions.

A study on emotional intelligence in children with ADHD found no significant differences in overall emotional intelligence compared to those without ADHD. The research examined traits and abilities related to emotional intelligence, including managing emotions, understanding emotions, interpersonal skills, and adaptability. This suggests that children with ADHD understand social skills and the components that would be taught in training programs but face challenges in applying these skills due to decision-making and cognition issues related to their symptoms.

An investigation into social decision-making in ADHD revealed that the way individuals with ADHD make decisions in social situations significantly affects their social challenges. This study observed 186 children, with and without ADHD, in social situations and assessed how their social behavior impacted their social skills over two years. The findings indicate that improving social decision-making skills could help mitigate the social difficulties faced by children with ADHD.

Insights into social cognition in ADHD highlight the complexities and challenges in understanding others' emotions, intentions, and humor, which contribute to the social difficulties experienced by individuals with ADHD. Deficits in social cognition can lead to problems in problem-solving and communication, further contributing to interpersonal issues. This underscores the need for interventions that address these specific cognitive challenges in ADHD.