2021, Vol. 3, Issue 1, Part F

Objective: Mental health can be directly related to economics by the potential of affected individuals to contribute as human capital. Common childhood mental health problems may alter the human capital accumulation of affected children. Studies have indicated that prevalence of ADHD is more in the urban area than rural area. In this background an attempt has been made to study the difference in attention deficit and hyper activity symptoms as identified on Conner’s rating scale between tribal and urban children and understand the economic perspective of the same.

Methodology: The sample considered for the study was children aged between 6 to 8 years studying in 2^nd standard to 4^th standard from tribal ashrama schools and private schools. A purposive sampling and between group design was considered for the study. The parents or teachers of children were administered Conner’s rating scale. Parents and teachers of children identified as probable case of attention deficit hyperactive disorder i.e. above the cutoff point on rating scale were called in for focused group discussion to understand qualitatively the impact of such children of/on the environment and economy. The results were analyzed by computing ‘t’ test to study the difference between the mean scores of tribal and rural children on Conner’s rating scale. The content on focused group discussion was qualitatively analyzed.

Results: The results indicated that tribal children showed significantly less symptoms of attention deficit hyperactive disorder on Conner’s rating scale when compared to urban school children. Qualitative analysis indicted a great influence of specific environment as risk for developing attention deficit hyperactive disorder and huge time, energy and economic burden.

Conclusion and implication: In this study tribal children showed significantly less symptoms of attention deficit hyperactive disorder when compared to urban children. Hence there is a need for changing the prevailing urban environment for promotion of healthy behavior in general and specifically avoiding increase of ADHD in children which directly and indirectly increasing the economic cost and burden of the society.