The Effect of Education Based on the Developmental Physical Education on Students’ Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of education based on the developmental physical education on students’ attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. To this aim, 40 boy students (7 to 10 years old) with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, in a quasi-experimental study with per- and post-test design, were selected from Gorgan city’s primary schools in 2015-2016 academic year, and randomly assigned into two groups (experimental and control) and participated in a three-month period course (two sessions of one-hour weekly) of education based on the developmental physical education. The intervention consisted of education and exercise of the fundamental movement skills and physical fitness components according to the developmental physical education for related age group, which embedded in game format to supply physical, cognitive and movement demands. The level of disorder was measured using short form of Conner’s Parents Ratting Scale and diagnostic interviews, and the resulted data were analyzed using analysis of covariance at 95 percent confidence level. The results showed that after controlling for pre-test levels, conduct problems, social problems, anxiety-shyness, psychosomatic, and overall level of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in experimental group at post-test is significantly lower than control group. Based on the findings of the study, a three-month period course of education based on the developmental physical education is effective in reduction of symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in boy students and it can be applied as a proper intervention.