Parenting Children with ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders in children, affecting 4-12 percent of school-aged children, and can profoundly affect their academic achievement, well-being, and social interactions. While it is easy to think of a diagnosis of ADHD as a concern primarily for the children affected, it is important to recognize that chronic developmental and behavioral conditions affect all family members.

This study utilized the ADHD Common Sense Parenting (CSP) program developed by Boys Town for the specific population of parents of children diagnosed with or suspected to have ADHD from ages 6-12 in the Yankton, South Dakota, area. Ultimately, effectiveness was determined by improvement in parental knowledge and skills when interacting with their children as assessed by the degree of improvement in parental well-being determined by PHQ-9, GAD-7, and the Boys Town CSP pre/post-test evaluation scores. The study period consisted of a five-week recruiting period, followed by a two-hour, once-weekly, seven-week parenting skills course.

Overall, the study did not have sufficient evidence to state whether the ADHD CSP course was effective at improving all outcomes measured. There were statistically significant changes in several subscales in the CSP evaluation scores (supportive behavior, conduct problems, and emotional symptoms). Positive trends were noted in both PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores.

The positive changes in all measures indicate that this course could help improve parenting skills, stress levels, and both school and home outcomes for children with ADHD.