The relationship between symptoms of attention deficit and
hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder with soldier
performance during training
Issue title: An Ergonomic Focus on Children, Youth and
Education
Affiliations: Army Research Laboratory HRED AMEDD Field Element, Ft.
Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Valerie Rice, Army Research Laboratory
HRED AMEDD Field Element, 2377 Greeley Road STE R, Ft. Sam Houston, San
Antonio, TX 78234-7731, USA. Tel.: +1 210 221 2007; Fax: +1 210 295 0441;
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: During interviews with Health Care Specialist military
cadre, instructors voiced concern that symptoms associated with attention
deficit and hyperactivity disorder (SoADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder
(SoODD) were interfering with soldiers' ability to complete training. The
purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between SoADHD and
SoODD with soldiers' grade point average (GPA), Army Physical Fitness Test
(APFT) scores, and musculoskeletal injuries during Health Care Specialist (HCS)
Advanced Individual Training (AIT). METHOD: Participants included 122 soldiers attending HCS training.
Participants completed a demographic survey and Barkley and Murphy's ADHD and
ODD self-report symptom surveys. Their ADHD and ODD self-report scores were
correlated with course performance metrics at the conclusion of their 16 weeks
of training. RESULTS: Pearson Correlation Coefficients revealed a significant
negative relationship between ratings on the Oppositional Defiant Disorder
scale with soldiers' GPA (p < 0.05), however the relationship was weak
– accounting for 4% of the variance. No significant findings were noted
between SoADHD and GPA, nor were significant relationships found between SoADHD
or SoODD with APFT scores or musculoskeletal injuries. CONCLUSION: Symptoms associated with ADHD and ODD had little impact
on the academic and physical performance of soldiers attending HCS training.
Implications and future research are explored, in this article.
