The appeal of tai chi and complementary therapies for college students with ADHD


Author: Sandra H Sulzer1, Cathleen Trueba2, Alexander K Converse3

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences and Utah State University Extension, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA.

<sup>2</sup> McBurney Disability Resource Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

<sup>3</sup> Waisman Center Brain Imaging Core, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Conference/Journal: J Am Coll Health
Date published: 2022 Jan 19
Other:
  Special Notes: doi: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1990071.   ,  Word Count: 164  
    Background: Developing effective non-pharmacological therapies for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is important. We gauged the likelihood that undergraduates would participate in a trial of tai chi as an intervention for ADHD, and evaluated attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Methods: We collected survey responses from 47 undergraduates with ADHD and 49 healthy controls, measuring their likelihood of participating in trials of tai chi and other non-pharmacological therapies, along with attitudes toward CAM. We examined the relationship between diagnosis, CAM attitudes, and willingness to participate in a trial. Results: Undergraduates with ADHD showed greater acceptance of CAM therapies. Thirty two percent of students with ADHD expressed strong willingness to participate in a tai chi trial. Conclusion: These results support the feasibility of a trial of tai chi as therapy for undergraduates with ADHD, and suggest this population is receptive toward CAM. Future research should examine why interest in CAM is greater among students with ADHD.



Keywords: ADHD; CAM; health attitudes; intervention; tai chi.



PMID: 35044884 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1990071