Abstract
ObjectivesWe evaluated the effects of the family mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) “MYmind” for children with ADHD and their parents, and examined child and parent predictors of child outcome.MethodsUsing a pragmatic quasi-experimental waitlist design, children aged 7–19 years (n = 167), clinically referred with a DSM-IV ADHD diagnosis, and both their parents completed waitlist (average waiting time was 8 weeks), pre-test, post-test, 8-week, and 1-year follow-up measurements. MYmind consisted of eight weekly 1.5-h mindfulness-based group sessions for children and parallel for parents, and a follow-up session. We assessed children’s and both parents’ ADHD symptoms and other psychopathology, child executive function, parental stress, parental overreactivity, and mindful parenting.ResultsMultilevel analyses revealed medium-to-large effect-sized reduced child ADHD symptoms between pre- and post-test, becoming stronger at follow-ups, while no waitlist effects occurred. Parents above the ADHD threshold improved on adult ADHD symptoms with similar sized effects. Children’s and parents’ other psychopathology, child executive function, parental overreactivity, and mindful parenting improved, whereas parental stress only improved at 1-year follow-up. Child age, child gender, ADHD medication, parental ADHD, and parent participation did not predict child outcome. Parent gender however interacted with parental ADHD to predict child outcome; children of fathers (but not mothers) above the ADHD threshold improved more than children of fathers below the ADHD threshold at post-test and at 8-week follow-up. Reduced paternal ADHD from pre- to post-test mediated this effect.ConclusionsFamily MBI (MYmind) may reduce childhood ADHD and improve parental functioning. Fathers with ADHD symptoms appear important in helping offspring with ADHD.
Highlights
With respect to children’s ADHD symptoms, as measured using both parents’ report on the Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale (DBDRS) total Attention and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity score, multilevel analysis showed no effect of waitlist, and a significant, medium-sized reduction of ADHD symptoms after intervention, which became stronger over time, reaching a large effect size at 1-year follow-up
A significant main effect of father and adolescent occurred, showing that fathers reported overall lower child ADHD symptom levels compared to mothers and adolescents had overall lower ADHD levels than children
Main results were as follows: (I) overall, no changes during a waitlist period occurred; (II) MYmind was found to reduce attention and hyperactivity/impulsivity and executive function problems in childhood ADHD, with medium- to large-sized effects; (III) adolescents improved no differently from children, youth with ADHD medication no differently from youth without, and boys no differently from girls; (IV) effects were maintained up to 1-year follow-up; (V) parents’ own inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity problems were reduced after MYmind, in parents above the ADHD threshold; (VI) offspring of fathers above the ADHD threshold improved more compared to fathers without ADHD, which was mediated by steeper reductions of fathers’ own ADHD symptoms
Summary
We evaluated the effects of the family mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) “MYmind” for children with ADHD and their parents, and examined child and parent predictors of child outcome. We assessed children’s and both parents’ ADHD symptoms and other psychopathology, child executive function, parental stress, parental overreactivity, and mindful parenting. Parents above the ADHD threshold improved on adult ADHD symptoms with similar sized effects. Children’s and parents’ other psychopathology, child executive function, parental overreactivity, and mindful parenting improved, whereas parental stress only improved at 1-year follow-up. Parent gender interacted with parental ADHD to predict child outcome; children of fathers (but not mothers) above the ADHD threshold improved more than children of fathers below the ADHD threshold at post-test and at 8-week follow-up. Conclusions Family MBI (MYmind) may reduce childhood ADHD and improve parental functioning.
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