Positive Parenting is Associated With Higher Self-reported Resilience in Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether positive parenting is associated with higher self-report resilience in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after controlling for other possible related factors.

METHOD: After providing informed consent, children with ADHD aged 7 to 11 years completed the Resilience Scale for Children (RS10), and adolescents aged 12 to 18 years completed the 14-item Resilience Scale (RS14). Higher resilience was defined as a resilience score above the mean score minus 1 SD (> mean - 1SD) for comparable age groups provided in the manuals. Children with scores under this cut-point were defined as having lower resilience. Parents completed the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire and the Vanderbilt ADHD Rating Scale. Factors associated with higher resilience were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 181 children participated in the study. The mean participant age was 11.15 (SD: 2.46) years. Of the participants, 79% were boys. A total of 118 children (65.19%) comprised the higher resilience group. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that higher positive parenting behavior score (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.83) and peer acceptance (aOR: 4.14, CI: 1.83‒9.37) were associated with higher resilience. Older age and having a diagnosis of borderline intelligence were associated with lower resilience: aORs: 0.84 (95% CI: 0.73-0.97) and 0.08 (95% CI: 0.01-0.75), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Positive parenting and peer acceptance were associated with higher self-perceived resilience. Health care providers should promote positive parenting and social skills to nurture resilience in children with ADHD.