Parenting stress in mothers of children with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]

ABSTRACT

This research was down to compare parenting stress in mothers with ADHD sons and normal ones. This research is a causal-comparing study and the statistical universe was all mothers of 5 to 12 years old sons with ADHD who referred to child psychiatry clinics [Ibn-e-Sina and Dr Sheikh Hospitals] and all mothers of normal sons [5 to 12 years old] were selected in primary and preprimary school at 4[th] educational area of Mashhad city, north-eastern part of Iran. Fifty mothers with ADHD children by at reached sampling and 80 mothers with normal children were selected by cluster sampling. Parenting Stress Index [PSI] was used and data analyzed by descriptive and analytic statistical methods such as t-test in independent groups. Results showed that there was a significant difference between parenting stress [parent's realm] and its branches in mothers of ADHD children and mothers of normal children [P<0.000]. There was a significant difference between parenting stress [child's realm] and its branches in mothers of ADHD children and mothers of normal children [P<0.000] and difference between parenting stress [parent-child's realm] and its branches in mothers of ADHD children and mothers of normal children was significant too [P<0.000]. Mothers with ADHD children had more stress compared with mothers of normal children which it is realized by parenting stress index