Comparing Sense of Coherence, Self-Efficacy, and Character Strengths among Adolescents with ADHD and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
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Objective: This study compared sense of coherence, self-efficacy, and character strengths among adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and a control group.
Methods and Materials: In this cross-sectional, causal-comparative study, 72 adolescents aged 13–18 years (24 ADHD, 22 NSSI, 26 controls) were recruited through purposive sampling from counseling and psychology clinics in Tehran, Iran. Participants completed the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE-17), and the short form of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS). Data were analyzed in SPSS-27 using basic descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of variance with post hoc tests; the significance level was set at p≤0.05.
Findings: MANOVA indicated a significant multivariate effect of group. Univariate tests showed significant group differences in SOC and self-efficacy (both p<0.001), but not in character strengths (p= 0.081). Post hoc comparisons revealed that SOC was lowest in the ADHD group, intermediate in the NSSI group, and highest in controls. Self-efficacy was lowest in the NSSI group and highest in controls, while adolescents with ADHD reported higher self-efficacy than those with NSSI and did not differ significantly from controls.
Conclusion: Adolescents with ADHD and those who engage in NSSI show vulnerabilities in sense of coherence and self-efficacy, whereas overall character strengths appear similar across groups. Interventions that enhance coherence and self-efficacy and use strength-based approaches may support resilience and guide therapeutic programs for these adolescents.
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