Parenting of children with Attention-Defecit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): The role of parental ADHD symptomatology

• Published in: Journal of attention disorders 2003-09, Vol.7 (1), p.31-42
• Main Authors: Harvey, E., Danforth, J. S., McKee, T. Eberhardt, Ulaszek, W. R., Friedman, J. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - epidemiology; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology; Child; Child, Preschool; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Female; Humans; Impulsive Behavior - psychology; Male; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting; Parents - psychology; Role; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1087-0547; 1557-1246
• DOI: 10.1177/108705470300700104

Objective: The present study examined the relation between parental ADHD symptomatology and parent-child behavior among 46 mothers and 26 fathers of ADHD children. Results: Fathers’ self-reports of inattention and impulsivity were strongly associated with self-reports of lax parenting both before and after parent training, and with self-reports of overreactivity after parent training. Fathers’ impulsivity was also associated with more arguing during audiotaped observations of parent-child interactions prior to parent training. Mothers’ self-reports of inattention were modestly associated with self-reports of laxness before and after parent training. Prior to parent training, there were nonlinear relations between mothers’ inattention and observations of mother-child behavior, with mothers who reported moderate levels of inattention engaging in the most negative parent-child interactions. After parent training, these relations were linear, with the mothers who reported the most inattention engaging in the most negative parent-child interactions. These results were weakened but were generally still significant when parental depression and alcohol use were controlled.