How are you getting by? Coping in developmental coordination disorder versus attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Emily J Meachon, Georg W Alpers
PMID 40337183WHAT IT FOUND
Adults with ADHD relied heavily on behavioral strategies like lists and routines.
Those with DCD used more cognitive and environmental changes, such as planning ahead or minimizing distractions. People with both conditions reported the widest variety of coping methods, including more medication and therapy use.
Key findings
01Participants with only ADHD most often reported using behavioral modification techniques to cope adaptively (59%), while those with only DCD and both DCD and ADHD most often reported coping adaptively through the use of cognitive reframing (39%, 43%, respectively).
02For maladaptive coping, all groups reported behavioral mechanisms (e.g., avoiding tasks) most often (DCD: 35%, ADHD: 39%, DCD + ADHD: 36%), and the DCD + ADHD group reported an equal proportion (36%) for maladaptive social behaviors (e.g., avoiding people or gatherings).
03Post hoc testing with Tukey’s LSD revealed the difference in behavioral strategies was driven by more behavioral strategies reported by the ADHD group ( M = 1.65, SD = 0.80) compared to the DCD group ( M = 1.10, SD = 0.32).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study relied on self-report and participant recall, which may miss strategies that are automatic or forgotten. The sample size for the co-occurring DCD and ADHD group was small (n = 14), limiting the generalizability of findings for this specific population. The design was non-experimental and cross-sectional, so it cannot determine causality or whether these coping strategies actually improve outcomes. There were no control groups of typically developing adults, so it is unclear if these coping patterns are unique to DCD/ADHD or common in the general population.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these coping strategies are effective treatments. This study describes what adults with DCD and ADHD report doing to manage their lives, but it did not test whether these strategies actually reduce symptoms or improve function. It is a descriptive survey of habits, not an intervention trial.