Caregiver beliefs in the overemphasis of the education system on academic performance as an etiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Objectives: Caregiver beliefs about the causes of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may influence caregiver intentions to let children with ADHD receive treatment. In this survey study, we intended to determine the proportion of caregivers who attribute the overemphasis of the education system on child academic performance as the etiology of their children's ADHD and the factors related to this attribution. Methods: In total, 213 caregivers of children with ADHD participated in this study and were asked whether they regarded the overemphasis of the education system on child academic performance as the etiology of their children's ADHD. Affiliate stigma was assessed using the Affiliate Stigma Scale. Each caregiver rated their child's ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder symptoms using the short Chinese version of the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, Version IV Scale. The depression and anxiety of the caregivers were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Results: The results were found that 58 (27.2%) caregivers regarded the overemphasis of the education system on child academic performance to be the etiology of their children's ADHD. Affiliate stigma of caregivers was significantly associated with caregiver attribution (p < 0.05). Caregiver depression (p < 0.01) and anxiety (p < 0.01) were significantly associated with caregiver attribution of the etiology of ADHD in bivariate logistic regression analysis models; the associations became nonsignificant after the effect of affiliate stigma being considered. Conclusion: Health professionals should consider caregiver-attributed etiologies when they are developing intervention programs for enhancing the mental health of caregivers and their children with ADHD.

Keywords

• affiliate stigma
• anxiety
• depression
• psychological well-being