Parental perception of family functioning in everyday life with a child with ADHD

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe and investigate family characteristics in relation to support, behaviour of the child, family functioning and sense of coherence from the parents' perspective in families with a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A further aim was to explore predictors of family functioning. Methods: The study population consisted of 1964 parents of children with ADHD aged 15 years old and younger. In all, 265 parents responded to a questionnaire (response rate 48.2%; 217 mothers and 48 fathers). In addition to questions about the parents, children, family characteristics and support from health services, the questionnaire included the Family Assessment Device (FAD), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Sense of Coherence (SOC) and Social Cohesion and Support Index (SCS). Data were analysed with descriptive, comparative and standard multiple regression analyses. Results: Parents with ADHD reported a weaker SOC and poorer FAD in the family than parents without ADHD. Parents with children medicated for ADHD were significantly more satisfied with social support (SCS), rated their children's behaviour as less problematic and reported better family functioning. Parents' age, SOC, SCS, SDQ and support from the community health services explained 46.2% of the variation in FAD. Conclusions: A strong SOC, social support and support from the community health services were strongly associated with a positive effect on family functioning. Parents with ADHD reported a weaker SOC and poorer family functioning than parents without ADHD. This knowledge may be useful and should be taken into account when planning support for such families.

Adolescents' mental health, help seeking and service use and parents' perception of family functioning

“…Parents of children with ADHD reported significantly lower family functioning than the other parents in this study. Family functioning was shown to be influenced by the child's behavior, social support, sense of coherence and support from the community health service in a study of parents with children with ADHD 15 . It is questionable whether the parents of children with ADHD perceive family functioning differently from parents of adolescents with mental distress.…”

“…Family functioning in families with children with ADHD has been described as weaker than in families of secondary school children 14 . Furthermore, perceived social support from the network and from the community health services influence family functioning positively in families with a child with ADHD 15 .…”

Parents’ perceptions of the long‐term appropriateness of a psychosocial intervention for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

“…The Double ABC-X Model (McCubbin & Patterson, 1983) acknowledges family functioning as important for positive child and family outcomes. As recognised in the model, family functioning can be supported in intervention through the acquisition of new resources and coping strategies to manage under stress (Moen, Hedelin & Hall-Lord, 2015). This may also increase parents' perceptions of intervention as appropriate to their needs as well as their child's needs.…”

Family Functioning, Psychological Distress, and Well-Being in Parents with a Child Having ADHD

“…Family functioning is important in managing everyday life and can be described as a dimension that influences the family in relation to problem-solving, communication, roles, behavioral control as well as affective responsiveness and involvement (Miller, Ryan, Keitner, Bishop, & Epstein, 2000). Parents whose children have ADHD and are on medication have reported less problematic behavior in their child and better family functioning than parents with children having ADHD who are not medicated (Moen, Hedelin, & Hall-Lord, 2015). Family functioning has been found to be the strongest association for the referral of children to the specialist mentalhealth service (Reigstad, Jørgensen, Sund, & Wichstrøm, 2006).…”

“…This association is a voluntary support organization with membership fees. The target population where 1,964 parents fulfilled the inclusion criterion of being the parent of a child with ADHD aged 15 years old and younger (Moen et al, 2015). The sample size was calculated to be sufficient by consulting a statistician, and assuming a drop-out rate of approximately 50% (Field, 2013).…”