March 18, 2024 — In a pioneering initiative, researchers Prof. Adina Maeir and Ph.D. student Jennifer Budman from the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Occupational Therapy developed a culturally sensitive psychological health promotion intervention for ultra-Orthodox Jewish (UOJ) mothers of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study, utilizing the “Intervention Mapping” protocol, sheds light on key determinants of health behavior change, addressing issues such as stigma reduction, increased knowledge about ADHD and its treatment, awareness of school systems’ capabilities, enhancement of advocacy skills, and maternal self-care.
ADHD is a prevalent neurodevelopmental health condition affecting around 5%-7% of children and adolescents, with its behavioral manifestations impacting family members, particularly mothers. The UOJ community, experiencing global growth, poses unique challenges as its conservative nature often deters members from utilizing public mental health services, leading to potential negative health outcomes.
The intervention, developed through a mixed-method design, involved qualitative content analysis of four focus groups comprising 25 participants. The process integrated theoretical models for behavior change, including the “Behavior Change Wheel’s COM-B system” and the “Theoretical Domains Framework.” Additionally, literature on ADHD in both the general population and the ultra-Orthodox community informed the systematic derivation of intervention components.
Key intervention strategies include group settings, information on health consequences, social support, re-attribution, active learning, goal setting, and promoting an identity associated with the desired behavior change. Quantitative feedback from mothers confirmed the overall relevance, effectiveness, and appropriateness of the intervention, with Content Validity Index scores averaging .85, .86, and .87. These scores suggest a relatively high level of content validity for the intervention, as they are close to 1.
This new study not only provides a culturally relevant approach to addressing the psychological health of ultra-Orthodox Jewish mothers dealing with ADHD in their children but also sets a precedent for future research in developing tailored interventions for diverse and culturally specific communities.
The paper, titled “Development of a psychological health promotion intervention for ultra-orthodox Jewish mothers of children with ADHD using the intervention mapping protocol” published in BMC Public Health, can be found here.
Researchers
Adina Maeir, Jennifer Budman
Institutions
1) School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
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