Parenting Children with ADHD

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Parenting Interventions
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) impacts 4-12% of school-aged children, affecting academics, well-being, and social interactions.
• ADHD's effects extend beyond the child, impacting all family members.
• Parental well-being and skills are crucial for managing ADHD challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of the ADHD Common Sense Parenting (CSP) program.
• To evaluate improvements in parental knowledge and skills for interacting with children aged 6-12 diagnosed with or suspected ADHD.
• To measure the impact on parental well-being using PHQ-9, GAD-7, and CSP evaluation scores.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the ADHD Common Sense Parenting (CSP) program in Yankton, South Dakota.
• Recruited parents of children aged 6-12 with ADHD or suspected ADHD.
• Administered a seven-week, once-weekly parenting skills course with pre/post-testing.

Main Results:

• The study found statistically significant changes in specific CSP evaluation subscales: supportive behavior, conduct problems, and emotional symptoms.
• Positive trends were observed in parental well-being scores (PHQ-9 and GAD-7).
• Overall effectiveness across all measured outcomes was not definitively established due to insufficient evidence.

Conclusions:

• The ADHD CSP program demonstrated potential benefits for improving parenting skills.
• Observed positive changes suggest the course may help reduce parental stress.
• The program shows promise in enhancing both school and home outcomes for children with ADHD.