Child maltreatment and associated factors among children with ADHD: a comparative study

This study aimed to compare the mothers of children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the mothers of children with no psychiatric diagnosis with respect to abusive discipline attitudes. One hundred children with ADHD, 25 children with no psychiatric diagnosis, and their mothers answered the questionnaires and open-ended standard questions about the type and frequency of parental abusive discipline. Conners scores of the children were associated with characteristics of the children, maternal characteristics, and maternal use of verbal discipline. Maternal approval scores on verbally abusive disciplinary acts were predicted by maternal past experiences, maternal characteristics and Conners scores of children. Similarly, characteristics of the children and the mothers predicted maternal approval scores on physical disciplinary acts. ADHD symptoms increase the risk of parental verbally and physically abusive discipline. Vice versa, verbal discipline also predicts increased ADHD symptoms. Understanding the risk factors may help in developing more effective intervention and prevention programs.