Belastungserleben von Müttern mit Kindern mit ADHS

The impact of preschool child and maternal attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms on mothers' perceived chronic stress and hair cortisol

Providing care for a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with parenting stress. Moreover, adults with elevated ADHD symptoms report increased perceived stress. Despite this, it has rarely been examined whether and how child and maternal ADHD symptoms may affect maternal perceived stress and the stress-sensitive hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. This study therefore investigated the possible impact of child and maternal ADHD symptoms on mothers' perceived chronic stress and hair cortisol concentration (HCC), while simultaneously considering the effects of child oppositional defiant/conduct disorder (ODD/CD) and maternal depressive symptomatology. In total, 124 mothers (35.96 ± 5.21 years) of preschool children were included. Maternal perceived stress, ADHD and depressive symptoms were assessed using self-report measures. Child ADHD symptoms were assessed using an interview and questionnaires completed by mothers and teachers. Additionally, mothers provided information about their children’s ODD/CD symptoms. Hair samples were taken from mothers to assess HCC. Child and maternal ADHD, child ODD/CD, and maternal depressive symptoms accounted for 50% of the variance in perceived chronic stress (F(4, 119) = 30.24; p < 0.01), with only maternal ADHD (β = 0.52, p < 0.01) and depressive symptoms (β = 0.49, p < 0.01) being uniquely significant. Maternal ADHD symptoms did not moderate the relationship between child ADHD symptoms and maternal perceived chronic stress (b = − 0.01; SE b = 0.17; t(5, 118) = − 0.05; p = 0.96). Mother’s age became the only significant predictor of maternal HCC (β = 0.29; p < 0.01). Based on these findings, practitioners are advised to be aware of and take into account possible maternal ADHD and depressive symptomatology and perceived chronic stress when treating children diagnosed with ADHD.

Risikofamilien

Zusammenfassung. Risikofamilien weisen häufig eine Vielzahl an Problemen, wie etwa Armut, einen geringen Bildungsstand, Paarkonflikte oder die Erkrankung eines Elternteils, auf, die in ihrer Kumulation und ihrer Wechselbeziehung eine hohe Belastung für alle Familienmitglieder darstellen. Kinder, die unter diesen schwierigen Lebensumständen aufwachsen, haben ein erhöhtes Risiko für Entwicklungs- und Verhaltensauffälligkeiten bzw. psychische Störungen. Entsprechend gilt es, Risiken innerhalb einer Familie frühzeitig zu erkennen. Die Kenntnis von familiären Ressourcen und ihre gezielte Stärkung sollten dabei ein unverzichtbarer Bestandteil der Intervention sein, um Familien bei der Bewältigung von Problemlagen zu unterstützen.