Parental Authority Styles of Parents with Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD)

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to examine the differences between parents (mothers and fathers) with attention deficit disorders (ADD), and parents without ADD, regarding their characterizing parenting style (permissive, authoritarian and authoritative) according to Baumrind (1971, 1991). Many theories have aimed to describe and conceptualize the concept of parental authority style. The present research uses Baumrind’s (1971, 1991) theory, which offers three characteristic styles of parental authority, addresses the ways in which parents settle the needs of their children, by means of nurturing and limit setting, each according to his typical style: permissive, authoritarian and authoritative. The point of departure for this study is, that the parent’s gender in combination with the parent being diagnosed as with ADD, will predict his parental authority style. Different researches in the field of Attention Deficit disorders (ADD) point to gender differences in different characteristics along developmental stages from childhood to adulthood (Chen, Seipp, & Johnson, 2008). Thus, we postulated that fathers with ADD will be characterized as with different parenting styles than mothers with ADD, and in comparison to a control group. Based on different studies, we assumed that fathers with ADD will be characterized by a less responsible behavior, yet they will be more direct and active; while mothers with ADD will be typified as more invasive, demanding and negative (Berger & Landau, 2009; Chronis-Tuscano et al., 2008). In addition, we hypothesized that fathers with ADD will be found as more permissive compared to the control group, while mothers with ADD would be more authoritative compared to the control group. The sample included 62 men, 30 with ADD and 32 control subjects without ADD, and 61 women, 30 with ADD and 31 without ADD. In order to examine the hypotheses subjects were instructed to reflect upon their parenting style in present and/or in the past, and to report it while completing the questionnaire. Parental authoritative style was examined by means of the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) developed by Buri (1991), measuring the parenting styles as conceptualized by Baumrind. The findings of the research reveal no significant differences between fathers and mothers without ADD, in neither of the parenting styles, also no significant difference was found between with ADD and mothers without ADD in each of the parenting styles.