Child impact on family functioning: a multivariate analysis in multiplex families with children and mothers both affected by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Abstract

ADHD seriously impacts family functioning, even the more in families with simultaneous parental and child ADHD. The aim of the study was to examine associations between family impact of child ADHD and child, mother and family characteristics in multiplex families with children and mothers both affected by ADHD. One hundred and forty-four mother-child pairs were assessed (children: mean age 9.4 ± 1.7 years, 73.6 % male). Family impact of child ADHD was rated by mothers using the Family Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed with child and maternal psychopathology and basic family characteristics such as employment, partnership status and number of children as predictors and FIQ subscores as criteria. Rates of variance explained by family variables were 49 % for negative feelings towards the child, 37 % for impact on partnership, 31 % for impact on social life and 27 % for impact on finances (p < .001, respectively). Pearson correlations with family impact were especially strong for child externalizing symptoms, maternal ADHD and co-morbid symptoms of the mother. The strongest independent predictor was oppositional defiant child behaviour. In ADHD multiplex families, mothers' perception of the impact of an ADHD child on its family can be explained to a substantial degree by child psychopathology, maternal psychopathology and basic family characteristics. Although a cross-sectional design does not allow for causal interpretations, the findings of this study offer important targets for the treatment of ADHD in a family context pointing to the need for assessing and treating parental mental health and co-morbid symptoms besides ADHD core symptoms.

Is an irritable ADHD profile traceable using personality dimensions? Replicability, stability, and predictive value over time of data-driven profiles

“…(3) our sample was characterised by a restricted age range (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) as opposed to the larger age range (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) in [23]; (4) recruitment strategies differed (community sample vs. clinically based). The possible effect of these factors on the identified communities should be examined in future studies.…”

“…Most disorders can indicate multiple, only partially overlapping, symptom profiles that are likely to result from multiple independent mechanistic pathways [1][2][3][4][5][6]. A prominent example is attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a diagnosis associated with multiple risk factors [3], a range of comorbidities [7], and various impairments [8,9]. Heterogeneity in ADHD is evident across multiple levels: from genetics [10] to neural systems [11,12], cognition [13][14][15], and clinical course [15].…”

Child/Adolescent’s ADHD and Parenting Stress: The Mediating Role of Family Impact and Conduct Problems

“…First, it has been well-documented the strong relationships between family dysfunction and child ADHD ( Donenberg and Baker, 1993 ; Lange et al, 2005 ; Bauermeister et al, 2010 ; Sollie et al, 2016 ). High levels of parents’ disagreement experienced in regard to the child problems, low participation in social events, and high affectation of the family’s social life was related to high levels of child ADHD severity or/and conduct problems ( Shelton et al, 1998 ; Fleck et al, 2015 ). These family variables, in turn, can affect the parent–child interactions and increase the parental stress.…”

“…Following the approach of several researchers (e.g., Lange et al, 2005 ; Cramm and Nieboer, 2011 ; Solem et al, 2011 ; Fleck et al, 2015 ) we hypothesized that the family and contextual factors may mediate the relation between child ADHD severity and parenting stress. It thus may be the case that increased ADHD severity predicts higher negative impact on family and lower perceived social support, which may, in turn, be linked to higher levels of parenting stress.…”

Prenatal antidepressant use and risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring: population based cohort study

“…2 Owing to early onset, lifelong persistence, and high levels of comorbidities and impairment associated with ADHD, 4 its negative impact on social outcomes, education, and the health of patients and their caregivers is substantial. 5 Understanding the risk factors for ADHD is an important public health matter.…”