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Mothers' views on hyperactivity: a cross-cultural perspective
Pradeep P Gidwani1, Gudrun M Opitz, James M Perrin
1Center for Child Health Outcomes, Children's Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, CA, USA. pgidwani@chsd.org
Summary
Mothers' perceptions of child hyperactivity differ by ethnicity and language. Spanish-speaking Latina mothers were less likely to view behaviors as typical and more likely to seek physician advice for concerns.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Cultural Psychiatry
- Behavioral Pediatrics
Background:
- Hyperactivity is a common concern in school-age children.
- Cultural factors can influence parental interpretation of child behavior.
- Understanding these variations is crucial for accurate diagnosis and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cultural variations in how mothers perceive hyperactive behaviors in boys.
- To explore the influence of ethnicity and language on these perceptions.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 135 mothers from Puerto Rican, Central/South American, and Anglo ethnic groups.
- Mothers evaluated 8 vignettes depicting behaviors related to DSM-IV hyperactivity criteria.
- Analyzed responses based on ethnicity and language of response (Spanish vs. English).
Main Results:
- Spanish-responding mothers were less likely to consider vignette behaviors as typical compared to English-responding mothers.
- Latina and Spanish-responding mothers showed greater interest in discussing behaviors with physicians than Anglo mothers.
- No association found between bicultural scale scores and perception scores.
Conclusions:
- Mothers' perceptions of childhood hyperactivity are significantly influenced by ethnicity and language.
- Latina mothers, particularly those responding in Spanish, appear more inclined to consult physicians about behavioral concerns.
- Culturally sensitive approaches are needed when assessing hyperactivity.