Preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Iranian fathers’ experiences

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. student in psychology, Department of psychology, School of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate professor, Department of psychology, School of Humanities, Tabiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate professor, Department of psychology, Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

4 Associate professor of child and adolescent psychiatry, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders in children, but so far little attention has been paid to the fathers of these children and what they experience. This study aimed to provide a deeper understanding of life experiences of Iranian fathers with ADHD preschoolers.
Materials and Methods: A qualitative design using phenomenological approach was chosen as the research method. It consisted of 9 fathers with 4-6 years old children suffering from ADHA, who were recruited through purposive sampling until saturation was reached. Information was collected through in-depth interview. Colaizzi method was used to analyze the interviews.
Results: The essential structure of fathers' experiences was "constant exposure to daily challenges", which included the following main categories: ups and downs of effective behavior management, dissatisfaction with mental health services, and undesirable interactions. 
Conclusion: Increased awareness about life experiences of fathers of ADHD preschoolers helps in orienting functions and providing support.

Keywords

References

  1. McCann DC, Thompson M, Daley D, Barton J, Laver-Bradbury C, Hutchings J, et al. Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of a specialist and a generic parenting programme for the treatment of preschool ADHD. Trials. 2014; 15(1): 142.
  2. Sayal K, Prasad V, Daley D, Ford T, Coghill D. ADHD in children and young people: prevalence, care pathways, and service provision. Lancet Psychiatry 2018 Feb;5(2):175-186.
  3. Visser SN, Bitsko RH, Danielson ML, Ghandour RM, Blumberg SJ, Schieve LA, et al. Treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children with special health care needs. J Pediatr 2015; 166(6): 1423-30.
  4. Lavigne JV, LeBailly SA, Hopkins J, Gouze KR, Binns HJ. The prevalence of ADHD, ODD, depression, and anxiety in a community sample of 4-year-olds. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 2009; 38(3): 315-28.
  5. Canals J, Morales-Hidalgo P, Jané MC, Domènech E. ADHD prevalence in Spanish preschoolers: comorbidity, socio-demographic factors, and functional consequences. J Attention Disord 2018; 22(2): 143-53.
  6. Riddle MA, Yershova K, Lazzaretto D, Paykina N, Yenokyan G, Greenhill L, et al. The preschool attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder treatment study (PATS) 6-year follow-up. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2013; 52(3): 264-78.
  7. Babakhanian M, Sayar S, Babakhanian M, Mohammadi G. Iranian children with ADHD and mental health of their mothers: The role of stress. Iranian journal of psychiatry and behavioral sciences 2016; 10(1): e2026.
  8. Chorozoglou M, Smith E, Koerting J, Thompson MJ, Sayal K, Sonuga Barke EJ. Preschool hyperactivity is associated with longterm economic burden: evidence from a longitudinal health economic analysis of costs incurred across childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2015; 56(9): 966-75.
  9. Nigg J, Nikolas M, Burt SA. Measured gene-by-environment interaction in relation to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2010; 49(9): 863-73.
  10. Chronis-Tuscano A, Lewis-Morrarty E, Woods KE, O’Brien KA, Mazursky-Horowitz H, Thomas SR. Parent–child interaction therapy with emotion coaching for preschoolers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Cognit Behav Pract 2016; 23(1): 62-78.
  11. Sonuga Barke EJ, Halperin JM. Developmental phenotypes and causal pathways in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: potential targets for early intervention? J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2010; 51(4): 368-89.
  12. Sonuga-Barke EJ, Brandeis D, Cortese S, Daley D, Ferrin M, Holtmann M, et al. Nonpharmacological interventions for ADHD: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of dietary and psychological treatments. Am J Psychiatry 2013; 170(3): 275-89.
  13. Charach A, Carson P, Fox S, Ali MU, Beckett J, Lim CG. Interventions for preschool children at high risk for ADHD: a comparative effectiveness review. Pediatrics2013; 131(5): e1584-604.
  14. Evans SW, Owens JS, Wymbs BT, Ray AR. Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 2018; 47(2): 157-98.
  15. Charach A, Fernandez R. Enhancing ADHD medication adherence: challenges and opportunities. Curr Psychiatr Rep 2013; 15(7): 371.
  16. Sonuga-Barke EJ, Thompson M, Abikoff H, Klein R, Brotman LM. Nonpharmacological interventions for preschoolers with ADHD: the case for specialized parent training. Infants Young Children 2006; 19(2): 142-53.
  17. Nigg JT. Future directions in ADHD etiology research. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 2012; 41(4): 524-33.
  18. Spencer TJ, Biederman J, Madras BK, Dougherty DD, Bonab AA, Livni E, et al. Further evidence of dopamine transporter dysregulation in ADHD: a controlled PET imaging study using altropane. Biol Psychiatry 2007; 62(9): 1059-61.
  19. Martel MM, Nikolas M, Jernigan K, Friderici K, Waldman I, Nigg JT. The dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) moderates family environmental effects on ADHD. J Abnorm Child Psychol 2011; 39(1): 1-10.
  20. Min A, Ahn DH. Life persistence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Hanyang Med Rev 2016; 36(1): 38-45.
  21. Sonuga-Barke EJ, Koerting J, Smith E, McCann DC, Thompson M. Early detection and intervention for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Expert Rev Neurother 2011; 11(4): 557-63.
  22. Peters K, Jackson D. Mothers’ experiences of parenting a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Adv Nurs 2009; 65(1): 62-71.
  23. Webster-Stratton CH, Reid MJ, Beauchaine T. Combining parent and child training for young children with ADHD. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 2011; 40(2): 191-203.
  24. Maleki ZH, Mashhadi A, Soltanifar A, Moharreri F, Ghamanabad AG. Barkley’s parent training program, working memory training and their combination for children with ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Iran J Psychiatry 2014; 9(2): 47.
  25. Kermani FK, Mohammadi MR, Yadegari F, Haresabadi F, Sadeghi SM. Working memory training in the form of structured games in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Iran J Psychiatry 2016; 11(4): 224.
  26. Chacko A, Wymbs BT, Rajwan E, Wymbs F, Feirsen N. Characteristics of parents of children with ADHD who never attend, drop out, and complete behavioral parent training. J Child Fam Stud 2017; 26(3): 950-60.
  27. Moldavsky M, Sayal K. Knowledge and attitudes about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its treatment: the views of children, adolescents, parents, teachers and healthcare professionals. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2013; 15(8): 377.
  28. Harvey EA, Metcalfe LA, Herbert SD, Fanton JH. The role of family experiences and ADHD in the early development of oppositional defiant disorder. J Consult Clin Psychol 2011; 79(6): 784.
  29. Johnson E, Mellor D, Brann P. Differences in dropout between diagnoses in child and adolescent mental health services. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2008; 13(4): 515-30.
  30. Tully L, Collins D, Piotrowska P, Mairet K, Hawes D, Moul C, et al. Examining practitioner competencies, organizational support and barriers to engaging fathers in parenting interventions. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2018; 49(1): 109-22.
  31. Breaux RP, Harvey EA. A longitudinal study of the relation between family functioning and preschool ADHD symptoms. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 2018 Mar 26: 1-16. [Epub ahead of print]
  32. Keown L. Fathering and mothering of preschool boys with hyperactivity. Int J Behav Dev 2011; 35(2): 161-8.
  33. Caserta A, Fabiano GA, Hulme K, Pyle K, Isaacs L, Jerome S. A waitlist-controlled trial of behavioral parent training for fathers of preschool children. Evidence-based practice in child and adolescent mental health 2018: 1-11. [Epub ahead of print]
  34. Ellis B, Nigg J. Parenting practices and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: new findings suggest partial specificity of effects. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2009; 48(2): 146-54.
  35. Danforth JS. Parent training for families of children with comorbid ADHD and ODD. Int J Behav Consult Ther 2006; 2(1): 45.
  36. Dubowitz H, Lane W, Ross K, Vaughan D. The involvement of low-income African American fathers in their children's lives, and the barriers they face. Ambulatory Pediatrics 2004; 4(6): 505-8.
  37. Colaizzi PF. Psychological research as the phenomenologist views it. Oxford: Oxford University; 1978.
  38. Speziale HS, Streubert HJ, Carpenter DR. Qualitative research in nursing: Advancing the humanistic imperative: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2011.
  39. Abalos EE, Rivera RY, Locsin RC, Schoenhofer SO. Husserlian phenomenology and Colaizzi's method of data analysis: Exemplar in qualitative nursing inquiry using nursing as caring theory. Int J Hum Caring 2016; 20(1): 19-23.
  40. Holloway I, Galvin K. Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare: John Wiley and Sons; 2016.
  41. Moen ØL, Hall Lord ML, Hedelin B. Living in a family with a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A phenomenographic study. J Clin Nurs 2014; 23: 3166-76.
  42. Gharibi H, Gholizadeh Z. Phenomenology of mothers’ experiences in living with children with AD/HD disorder. Procedia Soc Behav Sci 2011; 30: 1630-4.
  43. Hermansen MS, Miller PJ. The lived experience of mothers of ADHD children undergoing chiropractic care: a qualitative study. Clin Chiropract 2008; 11(4): 182-92.
  44. Moen ØL, Hall-Lord ML, Hedelin B. Contending and adapting every day: Norwegian parents’ lived experience of having a child with ADHD. J Fam Nurs 2011; 17(4): 441-62.
  45. Laugesen B, Groenkjaer M. Parenting experiences of living with a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review of qualitative evidence. JBI database of systematic reviews and implementation reports 2015; 13(11): 169-234.
  46. Ghanizadeh A, Zarei N. Are GPs adequately equipped with the knowledge for educating and counseling of families with ADHD children? BMC Fam Pract 2010; 11(1): 5.
  47. Dodangi N, Vameghi R, Habibi N. Evaluation of knowledge and attitude of parents of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder children towards Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in clinical samples. Iran J Psychiatry 2017; 12(1): 42.
  48. Ghanizadeh A. Educating and counseling of parents of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Patient Educ Couns 2007; 68(1): 23-8.
  49. Ahmed R, Borst JM, Yong CW, Aslani P. Do parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) receive adequate information about the disorder and its treatments? A qualitative investigation. Patient preference and adherence 2014; 8: 661.
  50. Ahmed R, McCaffery KJ, Aslani P. Factors influencing parental decision making about stimulant treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2013; 23(3): 163-78.
  51. Hummelinck A, Pollock K. Parents’ information needs about the treatment of their chronically ill child: a qualitative study. Patient Educ Couns 2006; 62(2): 228-34.
  52. Gharibi H, Fathi Azar E, Adib Y, Hatami J, Gholi Zadeh Z. Phenomenological experiences of mothers in living with children with ADHD. Journal of Family Research 2011; 7: 22-5 .(Persian)
  53. Hutchison L, Feder M, Abar B, Winsler A. Relations between parenting stress, parenting style, and child executive functioning for children with ADHD or autism. J Child Fam Stud 2016; 25(12): 3644-56.
  54. Ghanizadeh A, Shams F. Children's perceived parent-child relationships and family functioning in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Child Fam Behav Ther 2007; 29(3): 1-11.
  55. Talaei A, Mokhber N, Abdollahian E, Bordbar MRF, Salari E. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a survey on prevalence rate among male subjects in elementary school (7 to 9 years old) in Iran. J Attention Disord 2010; 13(4): 386-90.
  56. Alizadeh H, Applequist KF, Coolidge FL. Parental self-confidence, parenting styles, and corporal punishment in families of ADHD children in Iran. Child Abuse Negl 2007; 31(5): 567-72.
  57. DuPaul GJ, Kern L, Caskie GI, Volpe RJ. Early intervention for young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Prediction of academic and behavioral outcomes. School Psychol Rev 2015; 44(1): 3-20.
  58. Rosenberg L, Maeir A, Yochman A, Dahan I, Hirsch I. Effectiveness of a cognitive-functional group intervention among preschoolers with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A pilot study. Am J Occup Ther 2015; 69(3): 6903220040p1-p8.
  59. Hoagwood KE, Cavaleri MA, Olin SS, Burns BJ, Slaton E, Gruttadaro D, et al. Family support in children’s mental health: A review and synthesis. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2010; 13(1): 1-45.
  60. Davis CC, Claudius M, Palinkas LA, Wong JB, Leslie LK. Putting families in the center: family perspectives on decision making and ADHD and implications for ADHD care. J Attention Disord 2012; 16(8): 675-84.
Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 20, Issue 4
July and August 2018
Pages 231-239

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics