Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. (2018). Parenting a Child with ADHD. CHADD. https://chadd.org/for-parents/overview/

Parenting a Child with ADHD

Marumoto, T., Monma, T., Sawae, Y., & Takeda, F. (2023). Mental Health and Psychosocial Status in Mothers of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Differences by Maternal ADHD Tendencies. Child Psychiatry & Human Development. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-023-01532-x

Mental Health and Psychosocial Status in Mothers of Children with
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Differences by
Maternal ADHD Tendencies

Agnew‐Blais, J. C., Wertz, J., Arseneault, L., Belsky, D. W., Danese, A., Pingault, J., Polanczyk, G. V., Sugden, K., Williams, B., & Moffitt, T. E. (2022). Mother’s and children’s genetic risk, household chaos and children’s ADHD symptoms: A gene–environment correlation study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 63(10), 1153–1163. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13659

Mother’s and children’s ADHD genetic risk, householdchaos and children’s ADHD symptoms: A gene–environment correlation study

Taylor, L. A., Climie, E. A., & Yue, M. W.-Y. (2018). The role of parental stress and knowledge of condition on incidences of bullying and ostracism among children with ADHD. Children’s Health Care, 49(1), 20–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/02739615.2018.1545580

The role of parental stress and knowledge of condition on
incidences of bullying and ostracism among children with
ADHD

Pardo-Salamanca, A., Rosa-Martínez, E., Gómez, S., Santamarina-Siurana, C., & Berenguer, C. (2024). Parenting Stress in Autistic and ADHD Children: Implications of Social Support and Child Characteristics. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06377-4

Parenting Stress in Autistic and ADHD Children: Implications of Social Support and Child Characteristics

Charbonnier, E., Caparos, S., & Trémolière, B. (2018). The role of mothers’ affiliate stigma and child’s symptoms on the distress of mothers with ADHD children. Journal of Mental Health, 28(3), 282–288. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2018.1521944

The role of mothers’ affiliate stigma and child’s symptoms on the distress of mothers with ADHD children

Telman, L. G. E., van Steensel, F. J. A., Maric, M., & Bögels, S. M. (2017). Are Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents Less Impairing Than ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders? Associations with Child Quality of Life and Parental Stress and Psychopathology. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 48(6), 891–902. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-017-0712-5

Are Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents Less
Impairing Than ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders?
Associations with Child Quality of Life and Parental Stress
and Psychopathology

Radford University

- Children
- Adults
- College Students
- Parents of Children with ADHD

Experiences of ADHD by Population Group

Though ADHD begins in childhood, it can change in symptom presentation as one ages, or can be undiagnosed until later on. If diagnosed later in life, they did not "just develop" ADHD. Rather, they would have had it since childhood, and it simply went undiagnosed. If diagnosed as an adult, only 5 symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity each need to be applicable, as found in the DSM-5. Like in children, environmental factors or other mental disorders can cause similar symptoms to ADHD, so it is important to rule these possibilities out. A thorough evaluation by a physician is recommended over self-evaluation. 

Some of the more prominent symptoms of ADHD in adulthood include anxiety, disorganization, poor time management, and poor memory. Multi-tasking may be attempted (unsuccessfully). 

ADHD in Adults

There is no singular test to diagnose for ADHD in children. Instead, diagnosis is formulated based on the history of the patient and a discussion of symptoms. A test battery may be utilized to check cognitive functioning. 

The primary problem with diagnosing ADHD in children is that most children are inattentive and squirrely at least at some point in their lives. Level of attention can be affected by level of interest. In order to be diagnosed, the child would have to be struggling with inattention and hyperactivity in more than one area of life., and this struggle cannot be explained by other factors. They also have to display at least 6 symptoms of inattention and at least 6 symptoms of hyperactivity as denoted in the DSM-5. 

ADHD in children

According to the APA, 3-7% of school-age children have ADHD, and many display significant symptoms throughout adolescence. However, there is little known about the symptomology of ADHD in adolescence and adulthood, particularly in college-aged populations. This article is designed to summarize major research findings about ADHD in college-aged populations, including prevalence of symptoms, psychological functioning, and potential influence on academic performance. Findings suggest college students with ADHD are at greater risk for academic and psychological difficulties, but these findings are merely preliminary.

ADHD in College Students

Parents of children who are diagnosed with ADHD may face unique challenges. There are many factors that contribute to ADHD and its severity. Therefore, considering how parental stress, ADHD tendencies, and home environment play a role is important in diagnosis, treatment, and support for children with ADHD and their caretakers.  

Parental Stress: Higher levels of parental stress and self-stigma has been associated with higher severity of ADHD symptoms in children (Charbonnier et al., 2018; Marumoto et al., 2023; Pardo-Salamanca et al., 2024; Taylor et al., 2018). In addition, parents of children with ADHD were found to have higher levels of stress when compared to parents of children with anxiety disorders (Telman et al., 2017). This parental stress has been correlated with higher rates of bullying in children with ADHD (Taylor et al., 2018).

Parental ADHD Tendencies: Parents who have symptoms of ADHD experience higher levels of stress and children with higher severities of ADHD (Marumoto et al., 2023). 

Home Environment: Chaotic household environments are associated with severity of children’s ADHD symptoms, indicating a gene-environment correlation (Agnew‐Blais et al., 2022).  

Psychotherapy for parents who have children with ADHD should include an encouragement for more social support (Pardo-Salamanca et al., 2024), a discussion of public- and self-stigmas associated with ADHD (Charbonnier et al., 2018) and increasing parent knowledge of the disorder (Taylor et al., 2018).

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