Grant: Operating Grant

About 1 in 20 people have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). People with ADHD have problems such as not being able to concentrate or pay attention, being impulsive, and being overactive or feeling restless. We used to believe that only children had ADHD. Now we know that ADHD occurs at all ages. Given their problems with inattention and impulsiveness, the behaviour of people with ADHD can lead to problems in getting along with their families. Although we know quite a lot about how children with ADHD get along with their families, very few studies have looked at parents with ADHD and how they interact with their children. This study is one of the first to focus on parents with ADHD. We will compare families where both a parent and a child have ADHD to families where just the child has ADHD or families where no one has ADHD. We will ask parents about their parenting strategies and relationship with their children, and we`ll observe how the parents and children get along in a variety of situations. There are two important aspects of this study. First, we will include both mothers and fathers. Second, we will measure, not only the problems that parents with ADHD have, but also the positive aspects of their parenting. For example, do parents with ADHD have more energy or empathy for their children? This study will provide critical answers to questions about the functioning of families of parents and/or child with ADHD. Once we understand how adults with ADHD meet the challenges of parenting, we will be able to design treatments that build on their strengths and support them in raising their children.