TITLE:
The Effects of Parental ADHD Symptoms on Parenting Behaviors
AUTHORS:
Anja Friedrich, Jasmin Moning, Jacquie Weiss, Angelika A. Schlarb
KEYWORDS:
Parental ADHD, Parenting, Maternal ADHD
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.9 No.7,
July
17,
2017
ABSTRACT: Adults suffering from attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder (ADHD) often
display high levels of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. These symptoms
might interfere with skills that are necessary for optimal parenting such
as consequent and emotionally responsive behavior towards the child. Therefore,
the present review aims at investigating how parental ADHD symptoms
influence parenting, thereby including specific parental behaviors of both effective
behavior control and emotional responsiveness. In order to identify eligible
studies, a systematic search was conducted. Studies were included in
this review if at least some of the investigated parents suffered from ADHD or
heightened ADHD symptoms, and if the studies focused on specific parenting
behaviors as outcome measures. 14 studies yielded the inclusion criteria.
Across studies, parental ADHD symptoms were negatively associated with
consistent discipline, parental involvement and positive parenting, and positively
associated with lax and over-reactive parenting, intrusiveness and negative
emotions. The core symptom of inattention had stronger negative effects
on parenting than impulsivity and hyperactivity. Across studies, the gender of
parents had inconsistent effects. All in all, the present review shows that parental
ADHD is associated with serious impairments in parenting. Therefore,
parents with ADHD should be specially addressed and trained in the context
of children ADHD treatment.