Parental schemata in the management of children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

The authors describe the management schemata held by parents of children diagnosed with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They conducted semistructured interviews with 10 mothers of children who had ADHD and used interpretative, phenomenological analysis on the interview transcriptions to identify the schemata that guided the parents' management practices. The predominant schemata were the perceived difference of children with ADHD, parental aspirations, the necessity of medication, psychological management, parental authority, role of the father, mothering concept, and community support. The authors discuss these schemata in the context of the current controversy as to whether ADHDis best regarded as a medical or a developmental disorder. They conclude that the parents' schemata conformed to current child-raising theory, but as a consequence, the parents might not consider social factors involved in the development of ADHD sufficiently. The authors suggest that this restricted perspective limits the parents' options for managing the condition.