Family functioning in children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder

ABSTRACT

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects many aspects of a child’s life. It impacts not only on the child, but also on parents and siblings, causing disturbances to family functioning. Objective: To evaluate family functioning in the parents of children with ADHD. Methods: Families of children with ADHD and those of comparison controls were administered 2 forms of family functioning questionnaire; the Chulalongkorn Family Inventory (CFI) and general function scale from the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD). Both are self-report questionnaires designed to measure how families interact, communicate, and work together. Results: The sample consisted of 44 families of children with ADHD and 45 control families. The mean age of the children was 10.84±2.33 years in the ADHD group and 10.38±2.61 years in the control group. The sociodemographic characteristics were not significantly different between both groups. The families of children with ADHD scored higher at the level of unhealthy functioning than those of controls on the general function scale of the FAD. Whereas, the CFI scores were lower in the families of children with ADHD, reflecting poorer function, especially on the problem solving scale. Conclusion: The family functioning scores of ADHD families were less healthy than those of the control group. Family assessment should be included in the management of ADHD.