Announcing the Final Examination of Shaywanna Harris for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Date of defense: March 22nd, 2017
Time and room: Education Complex Room 306, 12:00 pm
Dissertation Title: An Investigation of the Effects of Neurofeedback Training on Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Symptoms, Depression, Anxiety, and Academic Self-Efficacy in College Students.
College students diagnosed with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are at an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and lower academic self-efficacy as compared to college students not diagnosed with ADHD. Additionally, college students with ADHD diagnoses struggle to obtain effective treatment options for their ADHD symptoms. Specifically, pharmacological interventions are effective in mitigating ADHD symptoms; however, adverse effects of stimulant medications (i.e., increased/decreased appetite, headache) impact medication adherence in college students with ADHD. Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, drug-free intervention that uses the theories of biofeedback and cybernetics to increase self-regulation of brain functions.
The purpose of this dissertation study was to examine differences in college student participants’ scores on inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, self-concept, depression, anxiety, and self-efficacy measures over time when exposed to the neurofeedback intervention. The researcher employed a quasi-experimental, one group, time series design to explore differences in levels of symptomology in 11 participants over four assessment points. The results identified participants’ scores in inattention (p = .016), hyperactivity (p = .017), self-concept (p = .008), depression (p = .004), and anxiety (p = .018) significantly decreased of the course of the intervention (16 neurofeedback sessions). Moreover, the participants’ self-reported levels of academic self-efficacy increased significantly over time (p < .001). The findings for the current study provide practical, professional, and public policy implications, expanding the neurofeedback training and ADHD literature.
Committee in charge:
Dr. Glenn Lambie, Co-Chair
Dr. Gulnora Hundley, Co-Chair
Dr. Haiyan Bai
Dr. Viki Kelchner
Outline of Studies
Major: Education PhD-Counselor Education
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