Effects of Parental ADHD Symptoms on Parenting Quality Angelica M. Vasquez
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dult ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a topic that is not as popularly researched as its pediatric counterpart and often goes undetected as adults tend to find ways to work around their symptoms rather than seek treatment. Despite this, ADHD has an estimated lifetime prevalence of 8.1% and an adult prevalence of 4.4% (National Institute of Mental Health Information [NIMH], 2017). While ADHD symptoms must be indicated in childhood (before age 12) for a clinical diagnosis, 40-60% of children with ADHD will continue to meet diagnostic criteria throughout adulthood (APA, 2013; NIMH, 2017). This statistic does not account for many other adults who have never been screened for ADHD in childhood or adulthood while still facing functional impairment. ADHD consists of a chronic impairment of emotional regulation, attentiveness, and impulsivity (APA, 2013). Without treatment, as is often the case in adult ADHD, these deficits can lead to lifelong adverse social, academic, and vocational outcomes (Biondic et al., 2019). Consequences of Adult ADHD Vocational Consequences Adult ADHD has several occupational and, consequently, financial repercussions. For instance, adults with ADHD tend to miss more workdays and have lower work performances than those without ADHD (de Graaf et al., 2008). Furthermore, Gibbins et al. (2010) assert that adults with ADHD often choose professions where their inattentiveness goes unnoticed or allow them to hyper-focus on a subject of interest. This professional limitation has negative consequences for the financial outcomes of adults with ADHD as well. Adults with ADHD are more likely to be unemployed and make poor financial decisions (Bangma et al., 2020; de Graaf et al., 2008). These financial limitations can pose barriers to receiving proper treatment for ADHD. Worse yet, adults with ADHD are overrepresented amongst prison populations, with a prevalence rate two to five times greater than the general population (Cahill et al., 2012). This further limits
their ability to engage in work and to spend time with their families. Domestic Consequences Most adults with ADHD have a child also affected by the disorder (Johnston et al., 2012). Regardless of their diagnosis, parents of children with ADHD face heightened levels of parenting stress (Carr et al., 2020). This heightened stress can produce several issues for the parent and their relationship with their child. Parents may face several challenges, such as failing to maintain consistency, monitoring children, setting limits, and maintaining routines, further increasing stress levels (Waite & Ramsay, 2010; Weiss et al., 2000). Failing to meet these parenting standards can cause inward selfdepreciation and outward frustration toward their partners and children (Nigg, 2013). Furthermore, ADHD is comorbid with depression and anxiety disorders, causing additional self-blame and isolation (Nigg, 2013; Waite & Ramsey, 2010). On top of that, undiagnosed ADHD is present in 10% or more of non-psychotic patients within addiction, prison, and general adult mental health services (Asherson et al., 2016). Additionally, adult ADHD is associated with relationship and marital problems, including higher divorce rates, remarriage rates, and lower marital satisfaction (Eakin et al., 2004). Specific Aims of Research This study aims to fully capture parents’ experiences with managing ADHD symptoms and how those symptoms affect the quality of their parenting and their relationship with their children. Through a combination of qualitative interview sessions with parents and quantitative surveys, this study proposes insight into the real, wide-scale effects of adult ADHD as it relates to parenthood. Utilizing mixed methodologies will help to inform quantitative results and provide different forms of information that will increase the breadth of this research. Based on the literature review conducted, it is hypothesized that parents who present with more ADHD symptoms will have poorer relationships with their children and be less effective at parenting as compared to parents without ADHD symptoms.
