Socio-demographic and clinical correlates of parenting style among parents having ADHD children: a cross-section study

Abstract

Background ADHD affects 7.8% of the school-aged population, making it one of the most common childhood brain illnesses. It is characterized by abnormally high levels of inattention, activity, and impulsivity at a young age. Being a parent of a child with ADHD is a real challenge, as the parents tend to be more disapproving, critical, and provide more impulse control directions; such parenting style can have an impact on the illnesses course, accentuate its signs and symptoms, and lead to secondary development of co-morbid psychiatric and behavioral problems. This makes the parent-child effect a matter of clinical importance that needs to be carefully assessed and managed. We aimed to estimate the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of parenting attitudes among parents having ADHD children. This cross-sectional study included 48 ADHD children from both sexes, aged from 6 to 12 years old, and their parents. In our study, we applied the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale 5th edition, the Conner’s Parent Rating Scale-revised, the parenting style as perceived by children questionnaire, and the Fahmy and El-Sherbini questionnaire for the measurement of socioeconomic status. Results Mothers of ADHD children had significantly lower scores of over-protections parenting style than the fathers; the current study showed a significant increase in total parenting scores and warmth/support in mild ADHD cases than in moderate and severe ones, and there is a significant increase in the mother’s positive parenting style toward ADHD children with lower levels of social problems, mild cases, and older age. There is a significant increase of positive parenting style toward ADHD children exerted by post graduated, professionally working, and high social class fathers and by working mothers among rural residents and high social class mothers. There is a positive correlation between IQ and a mother’s warmth/support. Conclusion ADHD children with mild symptoms, higher social functioning of the child, high socioeconomic level of the family, better education, and professional occupations of parents were associated with positive parenting style.

The Evaluation of Parenting Styles of Children with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder

“…According to the study conducted by El-Deen et al ( 2021), a minority of dads (27.1%) held professional occupations, while a majority of mothers (64.6%) were engaged in domestic duties as housewives. Additionally, a significant proportion of the families (45.8%) belonged to the middle social class [22]. The results of this study contradicted the findings of Malek and Amiri (2012), who regarded maternal employment as a predictor variable for ADHD [23].…”

“…Furthermore, the present study's results do not yield statistically significant evidence concerning the association income status with parenting style. This finding contradicts the findings of El-Deen et al's (2021) study, which demonstrated a positive relationship between ADHD children with fathers and mothers engaged in professional employment and positive parenting practices [22].…”

“…The study revealed that ADHD children's parents who studied up to the primary level had a significantly higher authoritarian score (authoritarian p = 0.005) and the normal children's parents who studied up to the secondary level had a significantly higher authoritarian score (authoritarian p = 0.007) whereas El-Deen et al (2021) found a significant association between ADHD children with higher education of parents and positive parenting [22]. Parents with higher education may be better able to manage their children's behavior by better understanding the nature of ADHD.…”

Fearful versus loving parents: a cross-sectional study in Mysuru city to assess influence of parenting style on ADHD

“…Communities must dedicate resources to psychosocial treatment for it to show a significant improvement in children's functioning and health. 5 BPT is an evidencebased psychosocial treatment that focuses on increasing positive and decreasing negative parenting through instruction and practice in effective caregiving strategies. It has been developed for parents of children with ADHD and associated behaviour problems.…”