Stress and psychosocial adaptation in mothers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder / Estresse e adaptação psicossocial em mães de crianças com transtorno de déficit de atenção/hiperatividade

Abstract

The present study has investigated the parental stress in mothers of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (n=30), in mothers of children with co-morbidity with the Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) (n=30), and in mothers of children with typical development (n=30). In addition, possible correlations of parental stress with coping strategies, social support and ADHD severity have been investigated. The mothers have been evaluated using the following instruments: (a) Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ); (b) Parental Coping Inventory - Health Area - CHIP; (c) Questionnaire of Parental Stress for Parents of Children with Development Disorder; (d) MTA SNAP-IV Teachers and Parents Rating Scale. The results indicated that mothers of children with ADHD and ADHD + ODD presented more parental stress than mothers of children with typical development. In addition, social support, self-esteem coping and medical coping moderated the parental stress effect.

Keywords

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Stress
• Social support
• Coping strategies
• Family adaptation