Correlates of family functioning when a child has attention deficit disorder

Modeling ADHD Child and Family Relationships

Little information is available on how to help families manage common negative sequelae of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This article is a report of the extent to which a theoretical formulation of child behavior, maternal distress, and family conflict was explained by data obtained from a community sample of families with children and adolescents with ADHD. Structural equation modeling was used to test the theoretical model. The primary variables of interest were (a) child behavior problems, (b) maternal distress, and (c) family conflict. The results suggest that maternal distress may mediate the relationship between child behavior problems and family conflict, indicating the critical importance of mothers in ADHD families and the need to provide them with additional support.

Maternal parenting styles and mother-child relationship among adolescents with and without persistent attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

We investigated mothering and mother-child interactions in adolescents with and without persistent attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a sample of 190 adolescents with persistent DSM-IV ADHD, 147 without persistent ADHD, and 223 without ADHD. Both participants and their mothers received psychiatric interviews for diagnosis of ADHD and other mental disorders; and reported on the Parental Bonding Instrument about mother's parenting style, the Social Adjustment Inventory for Children and Adolescents for interactions with mothers and home behavioral problems. The mothers also reported on their ADHD and neurotic/depressive symptoms. Our results based on both informants showed that both ADHD groups obtained less affection/care and more overprotection and control from the mothers, and perceived less family support than those without ADHD. Child's inattention and comorbidity, and maternal depression were significantly correlated with decreased maternal affection/care and increased maternal controls; child's hyperactivity-impulsivity and maternal neurotic trait were significantly correlated with maternal overprotection; and child's inattention and comorbidity, and maternal neurotic/depressive symptoms were significantly correlated with impaired mother-child interactions and less family support. Our findings suggested that, regardless of persistence, childhood ADHD diagnosis, particularly inattention symptoms and comorbidity, combining with maternal neurotic/depressive symptoms was associated with impaired maternal process.

A comparison of coping strategies used by parents of children with disabilities and parents of children without disabilities

The purpose of this study was to determine whether coping strategies differ in parents of children with disabilities and parents of children without disabilities. Participants consisted of 112 parents, including 50 parents of children with disabilities and 62 parents of children without disabilities. It was hypothesized that coping strategies would be different between the two parent groups. It was also hypothesized that parents of children with disabilities would Seek Social Support and utilize Planful Problem Solving more often than parents of children without disabilities. Coping strategies employed were significantly different between the groups. Seeking Social Support was a more commonly used method of coping among parents of children with disabilities, as was Escape Avoidance and Positive Reappraisal.

Maternal stress in nonverbal learning disorder: a comparison with reading disorder

Maternal stress was assessed in mothers of children ages 8 to 11 years with learning disorders (LD). Age-, gender-, and IQ-matched children with reading disorders (RD; n = 31), children with nonverbal learning disorders (NVLD; n = 21), and typically developing control participants (n = 23) participated. Mothers of children with LD reported higher levels of stress, although the specific nature of the stress appeared to vary by disorder subtype: Mothers of children with RD reported higher levels of general distress, whereas mothers of children with NVLD reported higher levels of dysfunctional interactions with their child. The severity of the LD was strongly associated with maternal stress in the sample of children with NVLD but not in the sample of children with RD. In the sample of children with NVLD, the best predictors of maternal stress were 2 variables associated with the child: The lower the child's Performance IQ, the higher the level of maternal stress. Furthermore, the level of the child's internalizing symptoms was also a strong predictor of maternal stress in the sample of children with NVLD. In our sample of children with RD, the 3 best predictors were all variables associated with the mother, including her age, her level of reported psychiatric symptoms, and her overall level of social support.

Psychosoziale Situation bei Familien von Kindern mit ADHS

Erste Studien belegen, dass die Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS) nicht nur mit einer ungünstigen Entwicklung des erkrankten Kindes oder Jugendlichen verbunden ist, sondern auch Auswirkungen auf die psychosoziale Situation aller Familienmitglieder hat. Die Pilotstudie ging der Frage nach, ob sich die Lebensqualität der Eltern von Kindern mit ADHS von der Lebensqualität der Eltern gesunder Kinder unterscheidet. Außerdem war von Interesse, inwieweit das Ausmaß des hyperkinetischen Verhaltens des erkrankten Kindes mit der psychosozialen Anpassung der gesunden Geschwister und der Lebensqualität der Eltern verbunden ist. Insgesamt 48 Elternteile beurteilten das Ausmaß hyperkinetischen Verhaltens der gesunden Geschwister sowie ihre eigene Lebensqualität. Die Eltern mit einem an ADHS erkrankten Kind schätzten zusätzlich das Ausmaß hyperkinetischen Verhaltens des erkrankten Kindes sowie die psychischen Auffälligkeiten der gesunden Geschwister ein. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass das psychische Wohlbefinden der Eltern mit einem an ADHS erkrankten Kind gegenüber Eltern gesunder Kinder beeinträchtigt ist. Des Weiteren hing das Ausmaß des hyperkinetischen Verhaltens des erkrankten Kindes positiv mit den internalisierenden und Aufmerksamkeitsproblemen der gesunden Geschwister zusammen. Das Ausmaß des hyperkinetischen Verhaltens des erkrankten Kindes war außerdem mit einem beeinträchtigten psychischen Wohlbefinden des Elternteils assoziiert. Die Befunde unterstreichen die Forderung nach familienorientierten Interventionsmaßnahmen in der Behandlung von ADHS, die die psychosoziale Anpassung aller Familienmitglieder berücksichtigen.

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder/learning disabilities (ADHD/LD): parental characterization and perception

Sixty-six parents of adolescents (mean age, 14.8 years), who attended special education classes and who were diagnosed as having attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder/learning disabilities (ADHD/LD), were interviewed. The comorbidity of the ADHD group included emotional lability and/or depression, 70%; oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), 67%; obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 44%; addiction to buying, 44%; and aggressiveness, 62%. Twenty-one percent were either involved in the past or presently using drugs. Nine percent had attempted suicide. According to their parents, the main characteristic of these adolescents was low self-image. Parents enumerated five negative characteristics: impulsiveness; nervousness; angered easily ('short fused'); aggressiveness with cursing and outbursts; and impaired sociability with impoliteness.

Children's accounts of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

As a postmodern illness, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is embedded in controversy, reflective of the cultural times in which we live. Within this debate, 2 perspectives, ADHD as myth and ADHD as behavioral disorder, are most frequently voiced. This article describes these 2 differing perspectives and reports qualitative data from 39 children and adolescents with a diagnosis of ADHD regarding their perceptions, meanings,and experiences of living with this disorder. None of the participants in this study denied that they had difficulties and many of the difficulties they described corresponded to DSM-IV-R criteria and the scientific literature. Given these discoveries, the continual debate about the authenticity of ADHD only further victimizes families who are in desperate need of services.

Time perception differences in children with and without ADHD

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to compare time perception in children with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with use of a time reproduction task.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 60 children (30 with ADHD and 30 without ADHD) ranging in age from 9 to 12 years. Children were asked to watch a light, verbally estimate how long the light was illuminated, and hold a lever in a depressed position for the same amount of time they thought the light was on. Each child participated in 16 trials of 3, 6, 12, or 24 seconds for a total of 64 trials.

RESULTS

Children with ADHD had significantly greater absolute discrepancy scores on the time reproduction task (F(1,58) = 10.878; P <.01) than did children in the control group. In addition, children with ADHD had greater increases in absolute discrepancy scores across time intervals (F(3,174) = 82.08; P <.01).

DISCUSSION

Poor time perception affects the performance of social skills and other adaptive behaviors such as health consciousness and concerns for safety. The findings of this study indicate that children with ADHD have impaired time perception compared with children who do not have ADHD.

Relationship between current quality of life and family of origin dynamics for college students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the relationship between current quality of life, family of origin relationship dynamics, and the presence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in college students.

METHOD

Participants were 37 ADHD undergraduate college students and 59 non-ADHD undergraduate students. Participants completed a background information questionnaire, Quality of Life Questionnaire, Family Environment Scale, and the Family Adaption and Cohesion Scale II.

RESULTS

In comparison to the control group, the ADHD group reported lower quality of life. The ADHD and non-ADHD groups did not differ significantly in reported family of origin relationship dynamics. Family of origin dynamics were highly predictive of current overall quality of life for the ADHD group, but less so for the non-ADHD group.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that family of origin relationship dynamics deserve further study with respect to how they impact adult quality of life for individuals with ADHD.

Sibling accounts of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

The goal of this research was to generate a description of how siblings in families with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children experienced and lived with this chronic behavioral disorder. Interview and diary data from 11 families (N = 43) were analyzed using the constant comparative method. Data analysis revealed that siblings felt victimized by their ADHD sibling and that their experience of victimization was often minimized or overlooked in the family. Findings suggest that there is a need for increased social and mental health services for all members of the family over the course of the disorder, and that the effects on siblings, in particular, can be potentially quite deleterious to their health and well-being.

Outlasting disruption: the process of reinvestment in families with ADHD children

The goal of the research described in this article was to generate a grounded theory of how parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) coped with this chronic behavioral disorder. Interview data from 15 families with ADHD children (N = 59) were analyzed using the grounded theory method. Data analysis revealed that parents outlasted the disruption of ADHD through three subprocesses of "reinvesting": making sense, recasting biography, and relinquishing the "good ending." Findings suggest that there is a developmental trajectory of how parents adjust to the disorder over time and that there is a need for increased social and mental health services for all members of the family over the course of the disorder.

Rethinking Behavior Disorders: Whose Attention Has a Deficit?

1. Children's behavior issues stem from multiple sources that must be assessed; nursing theory provides a framework to reassess children's behavior issues. 2. Not all behavior issues are problems, but some problems may be overlooked in blanket diagnosing. 3. Nurses can play a key role in designing and implementing interventions that promote a healthy child and a well-functioning family.