Exploring Parent Beliefs and Behavior: The Contribution of ADHD Symptomology Within Mothers and Fathers

Abstract

Objective: To use a multi-method approach to examine the association of parental ADHD and gender with observed and self-reported parenting beliefs and behaviors. Method: Seventy-nine mother–father dyads completed measures of child behavior and impairment, parenting beliefs and behaviors, and self- and partner ratings of ADHD symptoms and functional impairment. Forty-five parents also completed structured parent–child interactions. Results: A hierarchical linear model suggests impairment in functional domains may be associated with negative emotions about parenting and less effective parenting strategies. For fathers, greater severity of partner-reported symptoms of ADHD may be associated with greater frequency of negative talk during parent–child interactions. Conclusion: Findings suggest that higher levels of parental ADHD symptoms and functional impairment may be associated with reported beliefs and behaviors related to parenting. Differences emerged among mothers’ and fathers’ use of parenting strategies when self- and other-report of ADHD symptoms and impairment were assessed.