Parenting Similarity and Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This study examined the relation between parenting similarity and comorbid internalizing and disruptive behavior problems among 70 children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). General child rearing similarity and discipline similarity were found to be associated with fewer disruptive behavior problems but not related to internalizing problems. Parenting similarity was also found to be associated with greater marital adjustment and less marital conflict among parents of ADHD children. In contrast to previous studies in non-clinical populations, controlling for parental effectiveness these relations are significant. Parenting similarity, related to fathers' reports of parenting alliance and discipline similarity, is also found to be associated with lower parenting stress for mothers. Implications for parent training for ADHD children are discussed.

Fathering and mothering of preschool boys with hyperactivity

“…Parenting dissimilarities may also affect parents' satisfaction with their parenting roles if they lead to frequent and stressful disagreements about handling childrearing problems (Harvey, 2000). This may partly explain the level of parenting dissatisfaction expressed by both parents of the hyperactive group boys in the present study.…”

Stress among parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a Malaysian experience

“…It has also been reported that families of hyperactive children were twice as likely to have received family therapy as they reported relatively higher incidence of marital dysfunction (Befera and Barkley, ). The parents are likely to experience less alliance, more dissatisfaction and fighting with their spouse than the control group (Harvey, ). Barkley et al .…”

Involvement of fathers in therapy: A survey of clinicians.

“…In her study of conduct-problem children, Webster-Stratton (1985a) found that when fathers and mothers were involved in parent training, mother-child interactions were less negative than when fathers were absent from the therapeutic process. In another investigation, parenting similarities between mothers and fathers (i.e., fathers' reports of parenting alliance and discipline similarity) were found to be associated with lower parenting stress for mothers (Harvey, 2000). Another benefit of including fathers in child-oriented treatment is that this may help uncover underlying difficulties that might have been missed when focusing solely on mothers and children (Prevatt, 1999).…”