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Additionally, ADHD and its associated characteristics do not appear to have a deleterious impact on the personal and social resources of mothers across cultures.
In recent years, ADHD has become the most widely diagnosed and treated disorder among school-aged children across North America. It is also possibly the most controversial. From a relatively rare and vague conceptualization to a commonplace and well-defined diagnostic category, ADHD has become a part of our everyday language and has seeped into the most fundamental structures of modern society. Almost everyone who has had any exposure to popular culture over the last 20 years is familiar with the associated characteristics of the disorder and perhaps even the signature medication used to treat it. The increased media attention, rise of informational materials, and growing foundation of research across multiple interconnected disciplines have notably amplified the visibility of ADHD. From television, magazine and Internet ads for its various forms of treatment, to memorable characters identified as sufferers in books and movies, ADHD has undoubtedly captured our attention. However, the diagnostic validity of ADHD and the ethics of medicinal treatment have generated a considerable amount of speculation and controversy over the years. To a certain extent, ADHD has been established as a biological and genetically determined disorder. On the other hand, it has also gained a notorious reputation for being overly diagnosed and overly treated with stimulant medications.
At the heart of public and professional debate concerning the rising diagnosis and treatment of ADHD is the inherent role and responsibility of mothers. While prominent researchers have emphasized the biological origins of ADHD and argue that it is inaccurate and unfair to link the disorder to poor or lax parenting (Barkley, 1997; Hallowell & Ratey, 1994), mothers are often the most common source of blame for the aberrant behaviors displayed by their children (Malacrida, 2003).