The Association of Parent Dispositional Mindfulness, ADHD, and Parental Stres

Parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder often experience increased amounts of stress, as well as a strained relationship with their child. Prior research has shown that parent training interventions are effective in reducing ADHD-related behaviors. However, when parents themselves experience similar symptoms, the effectiveness of the parenting programs decreases. Furthermore, the implementation of mindfulness-based interventions including areas of Mindful Parenting is still in its early stages, particularly in relation to ADHD populations. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which parent dispositional mindfulness may be related to child ADHD symptoms (impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention), parental stress, and the parent-child relationship in families who have a child diagnosed with ADHD. In addition, this study investigated how a parent's own symptoms of ADHD may impact these relationships. The results suggest that while there is no relationship between dispositional mindfulness and perceived severity of child ADHD symptoms, there is a significant relationship between dispositional mindfulness and externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Additionally, this study suggests that a parent's own ADHD symptoms and stress mediate this relationship. This study also found that dispositional mindfulness is positively related to mindful parenting practices, and that mindful parenting practices are related to a decrease in parental stress. This relationship is also partially mediated by a parent's own symptoms of ADHD. Lastly, it was found that parent dispositional mindfulness is positively associated with parent involvement, parent-child attachment, and positive parenting practices.