Abstract
Recent research suggests that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may be influenced by interactions between the individual and their social context. This study examined the predictive value of family context variables and attentional control levels on child ADHD symptoms. A new explanatory model of the relationship amongst these variables was also tested. A sample of 754 families with children aged 7 to 11 was assessed through the Conners Parent Rating Scale, the Haezi-Etxadi Family Assessment Scale, and the Attention Network Test. Path analysis models showed a predictive association between children ADHD symptoms and Social Support Network, Parental Stress, Parental Self-efficacy, Attentional Control and being male. Furthermore, a stronger Social Support Network was associated with greater Parental Self-efficacy, a variable that predicted Parental Stress levels and children ADHD symptoms. In conclusion, a new multi-influence model of variables linked to ADHD symptomatology during mid-childhood is provided, which may be useful to support the design of family interventions.
Highlights
Symptoms. ● Attentional control and male sex were directly related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms in the path SEM model. ● Results showed that even non-clinical samples might benefit from primary preventive interventions in positive parenting
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders affecting children and young people today, resulting in a behavioural pattern characterised by lack of attention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness (American Psychiatric Association 2013)
Some works argue that the behavioural pattern of ADHD may stem from an atypical development of executive functions (Friedman and Rapoport 2015; Mueller et al 2017), which may, in turn, be the result of epigenetic processes influenced by interactions between the individual and their social context
Summary
Archer et al (2011), stated that simple genetics associations were not complex enough to explain the variability of the ADHD spectrum In this sense, recent research suggests that this disorder may be the result of interaction between genes and the environment, mediated by an epigenetic process (Hamza et al 2017). Some works argue that the behavioural pattern of ADHD may stem from an atypical development of executive functions (Friedman and Rapoport 2015; Mueller et al 2017), which may, in turn, be the result of epigenetic processes influenced by interactions between the individual and their social context This view highlights that this disorder and executive functions (EF) are interrelated and that some of the genes that affect EF may affect ADHD (Miller et al 2019).
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