Parenting style profiles in families of children with ADHD using a person-centred approach

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been linked to problematic parent-child interactions in the family setting, which can influence the development of the disorder in terms of how it progresses and the types and severity of symptoms. The present study aims to determine parenting style profiles in a sample of families of children with ADHD and the relationship between those profiles and ADHD-severity and type of presentation (both reported by parents). A total of 189 parents of children with ADHD aged 6 to 16 years old participated in the study. Profiles of parenting styles were produced by considering a combination of variables associated with the two dimensions of parent-child interactions, responsiveness and demandingness (through the variables: warmth-communication, criticism-rejection, inductive, rigid, and indulgent discipline). We conducted Latent Profile Analysis and identified four parenting style profiles: authoritarian, authoritative, permissive-neglectful and mixed. The most common parenting style was an authoritative style. In contrast, the least common profiles were the authoritarian and the mixed styles characterized by higher levels of criticism-rejection. Profiles were examined with an exploratory and descriptive approach in terms of ADHD-Severity and ADHD-Type of presentation. In conclusion, we highlight the importance of defining the distinct parenting practices based on the dimensions of responsiveness and demandingness, and the importance of analysing family interactions in relation to ADHD in children, although more research is still needed related to the type, and especially the severity, of ADHD symptoms.