Associations between maternal attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and parenting.
Mothers of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk for an ADHD diagnosis themselves, which is likely associated with impairments in parenting. The present study utilized a multi-method assessment of maternal ADHD and parenting to examine the extent to which maternal ADHD symptoms are associated with maladaptive parenting. Participants included 70 6-10 year old children with DSM-IV ADHD and their biological mothers. Results suggested that mothers with higher levels of ADHD symptoms reported lower levels of involvement and positive parenting and higher levels of inconsistent discipline. During observed parent-child interactions, maternal ADHD symptoms were negatively associated with positive parenting, and positively associated with negative parenting and repeated commands before giving the child an opportunity to comply. Given prior research suggesting that maladaptive parenting behaviors are risk factors for the later development of conduct problems among children with ADHD, these findings have important clinical implications for family-based assessment and treatment of ADHD.
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. achronis@psyc.umd.edu
Andrea
A
Chronis-Tuscano
Veronica L
VL
Raggi
Tana L
TL
Clarke
Mary E
ME
Rooney
Yamalis
Y
Diaz
Jessica
J
Pian
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D002648:Child; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016487:Parenting; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires