Relationships between behavioral symptoms of non-medicated Chinese children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and parenting stress: comparison of different subtypes and comorbidities

Yan Li, Wen Qing Jiang, Ya Song Du (Lead / Corresponding author), David Coghill

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    15 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Introduction: To identify the characteristics of behavior problems among children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their relation with parenting stress. 

    Methods: The Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire (PSQ) and Parenting Stress Index (PSI) were used to assess the symptoms and parenting stress of 132 non-medicated children with ADHD as compared with 88 healthy controls. 

    Results: Every PSQ factor of ADHD children was higher than in the control group; children with the combined subtype of ADHD had the highest scores in conduct and learning problems, impulsivity/hyperactivity, and overall hyperactivity index; the PSI total stress, child domain, and parent domain scores were all higher in the ADHD group than in the control group; children with the combined subtype of ADHD had the highest score in the competence subscale of the parent domain, whereas the PSI total stress score of parents of children with ADHD and comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) was higher than that of parents of children with only ADHD. The PSI total stress score was positively correlated with all PSQ factor scores. The PSQ factors of conduct problems and learning problems were found to be significant predictors in a regression analysis. Discussion: The children with ADHD exhibited abnormal parenting stress compared with healthy controls, which was much more pronounced when the children had comorbid ODD. Furthermore, parenting stress was related with the severity of ADHD symptoms, suggesting that children with the combined subtype of ADHD require particular attention in the future.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)127-135
    Number of pages9
    JournalAsia-Pacific Psychiatry
    Volume8
    Issue number2
    Early online date25 Sept 2015
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 8 Apr 2016

    Keywords

    • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
    • Behavioral symptom
    • Comorbidity
    • Different subtype
    • Parenting stress

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Psychiatry and Mental health

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