| Chapter 1: | Introduction |
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Lower parenting self-esteem and self-confidence (Cunningham & Boyle, 2002) and greater family tension and interpersonal conflict (Brown & Pancini, 1989; Johnston, 1996) have also been found among mothers of ADHD children.
The emotional impact associated with raising an ADHD child is a relevant concern, since children often display more behavioral problems in reaction to their parent’s distress. Psychological distress can also impair the mother’s ability to manage the behavioral manifestations of her child’s disorder, which reduces the child’s receptivity to intervention and treatment. This in turn creates more stress and strain for mothers (Fischer, 1990). Given the prevalence of ADHD in both Canada and the United States, addressing the issue of maternal stress is a vital concern for both health and educational professionals dealing with ADHD children. However, little is known about how mothers cope with the heightened experience of psychological stress and family strain associated with raising an ADHD child (Bussing, Shoenberg, & Perwien, 1998).
Theoretical Framework
Social support is most commonly referred to as a coping resource or “fund” made up of family members, significant others, and friends whom people may draw upon in stressful times of need or crisis (Thoits, 1995). Literature indicates that women are more actively involved in social networks than men and are more likely to seek the support and comfort of family and friends to deal with the occurrence of stress (Aneshensel, 1992). Previous research has also demonstrated significant gender differences in symptoms of stress and associated coping mechanisms.