Effect of Maternal Anxiety on Parenting Stress of Fathers of Children With ADHD

Abstract

Background Hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increase parenting stress and familial conflict. Among parent-related factors, maternal mental health has been studied in-depth, but studies on paternal factors in this context are scarce. This cross-sectional study was conducted of children with ADHD and their parents in South Korea. We investigated the relationships between ADHD symptom severity of children and the mental health of their mothers and fathers. Methods The study included 70 children with ADHD and their 140 married heterosexual parents (70 fathers and 70 mothers). Children completed the Child Depression Inventory and State-Anxiety Inventory for children, and their parents completed the Korean ADHD rating scale-IV, Adult ADHD self-report scale, State-Anxiety Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Parental Stress Scale. Results There was a significant positive correlation between children’s ADHD symptoms and maternal anxiety symptom severity, whereby more severe ADHD symptoms were associated with more severe maternal anxiety symptoms. There was also a significant positive correlation between maternal anxiety symptom severity and paternal parenting stress severity, whereby more severe maternal anxiety was associated with more severe paternal parenting stress. A mediation model showed that paternal parenting stress severity was not directly related to children’s ADHD symptoms, but the severity of maternal anxiety mediated this relationship. Conclusion The present study found the importance of mental health in mothers of children with ADHD and the interrelatedness of mental health within families. Future assessments and treatment of children with ADHD should include both the children and their parents.

Investigation of stress level and parenting style among parents of children diagnosed as attention deficit and hyperactivity in Iran

“…In this study they used Korean ADHD Rating Scale-IV (K-ARS-IV), Child Depression Inventory (CDI), Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), State-Anxiety Inventory (SAI)/ State-Anxiety Inventory for Children (SAI-C), Patient Health Questionnare-9 (PHQ-9) and Parental Stress Scale (PSS). The results of this study showed mothers of children with ADHD they experience more stress than fathers, ADHD symptoms of children's are positively correlated with their mother's anxiety and there is a relationship between mother's stress and children's ADHD symptoms and fathers stress as well (Lee & Kim, 2022). Chronis, Chacko, Fabiano, Wymbs, and Pelham(2004)try to explain behavioral parent training (BPT) and how it can be useful for both parents and children with ADHD.…”

The Ripple Effect: Quality of Life and Mental Health of Parents of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Given that mothers typically serve as the primary caregivers and spend more time with the children, they encounter greater challenges in managing ADHD [ 19 ]. While some studies suggest that mothers of children with disabilities experience higher stress levels than fathers [ 20 ], other research indicates that fathers are comparably affected [ 18 ]. The disparity in mental illness prevalence between mothers and fathers and its impact on children’s functionality requires further investigation.…”

Association of Affiliate Stigma with Parenting Stress and Its Moderators among Caregivers of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

“…In the parent domain, the meta-analysis of Theule et al found that parental depressive symptoms were significantly associated with parental stress [ 5 ]. A study on 70 dyads of parents of CADHD in southern Korea demonstrated that maternal anxiety was significantly associated with paternal parenting stress [ 11 ]. Wiener et al found that mothers’ self-reported ADHD symptoms were associated with higher parenting stress, whereas fathers’ self-reported ADHD symptoms were associated with lower parenting stress [ 3 ]; the MTA study did not find a significant association between maternal ADHD symptoms and parenting stress [ 2 ].…”