Educational Diagnostic Label and Teacher Self-Efficacy: Impact on Classroom Intervention Choice

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and specific learning disabilities (SLD) face similar academic and behavioral challenges. Although combined behavioral and academic interventions (AIs) are among the most effective for each disability, a child's diagnostic label and teacher self-efficacy may influence teacher intervention choice. This study examined the relationship between diagnostic label and teacher self-efficacy on intervention choice using a sample of 206 general education elementary school teachers (female = 69.9%; White = 60.7%). Results showed that teachers were significantly more likely to endorse AIs for children with SLD as compared to ADHD (ds = 0.29-0.35), even when children had identical academic needs. Furthermore, self-efficacy did not moderate this relationship but was an individual predictor of intervention endorsement. Findings indicate the need to increase teacher awareness of academic impairments related to ADHD and to further identify teacher factors that could impact choice of intervention and decrease intervention selection biases.