Abstract:

Children who may be characterised by the words "as if they were sitting on a hedgehog" are children with signs of restlessness and inattention; many teachers and parents describe them as naughty. Within our research, we focused on children aged 13 to 16 years who were diagnosed with ADHD syndrome and attend a special school for such children or are placed in institutional care facilities. In 80 children, we observed ADHD symptoms that spill over to the so-called syndrome of problem behaviour, their family background, hobbies, school success and reasons for placement in special schools or institutional care facilities. Within our set of tools, we also used the SURPS (Substance Use Risk Profile Scale) questionnaire, which allows to measure four personality traits: negative thinking (Hopelessness), hypersensitivity (Anxiety Sensitivity), impulsivity (IMPulsivity) and search for excitement (Sensation Seeking), dealing with the relationship between personality traits and manifestations of risk and problem behaviour. The aim of this paper is to present the results of both monitored groups of children, their comparison with the data based on analyses of interviews, and seek common elements and differences in both groups of children - those who attended a special school and remain in the care of parents and children, and those enrolled in institutional care facilities.

Keywords:

ADHD, behavioural problems, SURPS, special schools, institutional care facilities.