The Relationship Between Maternal Stress and Boys' ADHD Symptoms and Quality of Life: An Australian Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

PurposeThis study prospectively examined the role of maternal stress in boys' attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and quality of life (QoL). MethodsChildren with ADHD (5–13 years) were recruited from 21 pediatric practices and followed up 12 months later (n = 166). Maternal stress was examined at baseline, and boys' ADHD symptoms and QoL were examined at baseline and 12 months later. Linear regressions examined whether baseline maternal stress predicted child ADHD symptoms and QoL 12 months later in a series of adjusted models that accounted for child age, ADHD medication use, neighborhood disadvantage, comorbidities and baseline ADHD symptoms or QoL (full model). ResultsIn the unadjusted model, maternal stress at baseline was significantly associated with more severe parent-reported ADHD symptoms at 12 months, accounting for 5.7% of the variance in ADHD symptoms, but this association was attenuated after adjustments in the full model. Baseline maternal stress was associated with poorer QoL at 12 months in boys in the unadjusted model, accounting for 12.4% of the variance, which remained significant in the full adjusted model. ConclusionsMaternal stress is associated with lowered QoL in boys, and may pose a risk for boys' later QoL. Practice implicationsStress management interventions with mothers of children with ADHD experiencing heightened stress are warranted, and are likely to have a positive impact on mothers as well as children.