Modeling ADHD child and family relationships

Little information is available on how to help families manage common negative sequelae of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This article is a report of the extent to which a theoretical formulation of child behavior, maternal distress, and family conflict was explained by data obtained from a community sample of families with children and adolescents with ADHD. Structural equation modeling was used to test the theoretical model. The primary variables of interest were (a) child behavior problems, (b) maternal distress, and (c) family conflict. The results suggest that maternal distress may mediate the relationship between child behavior problems and family conflict, indicating the critical importance of mothers in ADHD families and the need to provide them with additional support.