Parenting Styles and Quality of Life among Parents of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder- A Comparative Study

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder that significantly impacts both children and their caregivers. Parents of children with ADHD often face heightened stress and altered parenting behaviors, which can compromise their quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess and compare parenting styles and QoL between parents of children with ADHD and those of neurotypical children. A cross-sectional design was employed with purposive sampling of 60 parents (30 with ADHD children and 30 controls) from Cuttack, Odisha. The Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) and WHOQOLBREF were used to assess parenting styles and quality of life, respectively. Statistical analyses included Chi-square tests and Mann-Whitney U tests to analyse the homogeneity and compare both the experimental and control groups on parenting styles and quality of life, respectively. The results indicated significant differences were observed in parenting styles, with ADHDgroup parents reporting lower positive parenting and involvement, and higher poor supervision and inconsistent discipline. QoL was significantly lower in the ADHD group across physical, psychological, and social domains, though environmental QoL did not differ significantly. The study concluded that parenting a child with ADHD is associated with maladaptive parenting patterns and reduced caregiver QoL. Thus, emphasizing targeted interventions supporting both children and caregivers are essential for holistic ADHD management.