Personification of stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life, among parents of attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder children

Abstract

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder (ADHD) is a common pediatric condition which contributes to poor quality of life (QoL) among parents of children diagnosed with the same. These parents go through anxiety, stress, depression, and other psychological trauma; face a lot of social taboos and stigma. These entire psychosocial variables affect their day-to-day life functioning, productivity, and psychological health. Thus contribute to poor perceived QoL among these parents. Aim: The study's main objective is, therefore, to see the effect on an ADHD child's parent of their perceived QoL in relation to their psychological wellbeing as measured by their level of stress, anxiety, and depression. Materials and Methodology: A total of 30 parents of children with ADHD were selected as samples from the outpatient section of the PGIMER, Department of Psychiatry, using a purposive and convenient sampling method. Among these parents, QoL was assessed using the WHO QoL (BREF); whereas stress, depression, and anxiety levels were assessed using Depression Anxiety Stress Scale II. Results: Our research findings suggest the mean age of the parents to be 32 years (with the age range of 28–45), with the mean age of the child as 9 years (with the age range of 4–13). Where parents 35 years showed higher anxiety than compared to other age groups. The overall QoL was also found to be negatively correlated with anxiety, stress, and social relationships. The mentioned findings have been discussed further. Conclusion: The overall results of this study showed clearly that most of the parents had perceived serious burden and poor QoL in all areas. The research also indicates that these parents are more distressed, stressful, and depressed. Our research finding indicated that for these parents to keep their lifestyles healthy, they can make a difference by recognizing and embracing the fact that ADHD is more inevitable than the one caused by environmental and/or personal errors. Parents should share their workload, increase their need for assistance and encourage one another to take some time out of the care of the child to have a shift and enhance their QoL.

Keywords

• attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder
• caregiver
• psychological impact