The Parenting and Family Functioning of Children with Hyperactivity

This study examined the parenting and family life correlates of childhood hyperactivity in a community sample of London school children. Twenty-eight boys with pervasive hyperactivity were compared to 30 classroom control children on a range of parenting and family functioning measures. Results showed that poor parent coping and the use of aggressive discipline methods were significantly associated with hyperactivity after adjusting for the effects of conduct disorder and parent mental health. The best parenting predictor of hyperactivity was disciplinary aggression. Findings suggest that the quality of parenting provided for hyperactive children may contribute to their behavioural difficulties, and highlights the need to examine more closely the role of parenting attitudes and behaviour in shaping the course, prognosis, and treatment outcomes for children with hyperactivity. Abbreviations: BPVS: British Picture Vocabulary Scale; CRPR: Child-Rearing Practices Report; DAS: Dyadic Adjustment Scale; GHQ: General Health Questionnaire; PACS: Parental Account of Children's Symptoms Interview; SOS: Significant Others Scale.