Poster #33 - Early Adolescent ADHD Symptoms in Girls are Associated with an Increase in Authoritarian Parenting

• In Event: Poster Session 09

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Studies of ADHD in children suggest that symptomology can be amplified or attenuated by parenting behaviors such as authoritarianism (Theule et al., 2010); however, few studies have tested such associations longitudinally controlling for earlier levels of the outcome, or bidirectionally (Harold et al., 2013). As such, we examined the longitudinal and bidirectional effects of children’s ADHD symptomology and parental authoritarianism. Because sex differences are evident for ADHD (Arnett et al., 2015), we examined whether the associations varied by sex.
The racially and socioeconomically diverse sample consisted of twin children (51.3% female; 59.7% non-Hispanic White, 24.4% Hispanic) and their primary caregivers (95% mothers). Data from the current study were taken from the age 10 (N= 744, Mage=10.88 years, SD=1.14 ) and 11 (N= 616; Mage=11.75 years, SD=1.08) assessments of a large longitudinal community sample of twins (Lemery-Chalfant et al., 2019). At ages 10 and 11, primary caregivers self-reported on their parental authoritarianism with the Parenting Style and Dimensions Questionnaire (Robinson et al., 1995; α = 0.76) and their children’s ADHD symptomology of inattention and impulsivity behaviors over the past 6 months via the Health and Behavior Questionnaire ADHD composite (Armstrong & Goldstein, 2003 ; α = 0.89). Multivariate multilevel regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between children’s ADHD symptomology and parental authoritarianism. Interaction terms between sex and independent variables were created after grand mean centering to test sex differences. Covariates included twin sex, race, age, and family socioeconomic status.
Authoritarian parenting at age 10 did not significantly predict ADHD symptomology at age 11 when controlling for earlier ADHD symptoms. No significant sex differences were identified. Importantly, greater ADHD symptoms at age 10 did predict authoritarian parenting at age 11, while controlling for earlier parental authoritarianism (b = .113, p = .012). Sex differences were demonstrated, such that greater ADHD symptomology at age 10 was found to be significantly associated with greater parental authoritarianism at age 11 for girls (b=.126, p=.035), but not for boys (b = -.028, p = .745).
These results support youth evocative effects on parenting (Shelleby & Ogg, 2019). The identified sex differences in the association between ADHD symptoms and parental authoritarianism could potentially be attributed to societal expectations for girls’ behavior (e.g., polite, following rules, lack of hyperactivity; Wright et al., 2013). When parents observe ADHD behaviors in girls, as opposed to boys, it might counter their pre-existing expectations of typical behaviors in girls, thus contributing to the observed increase in authoritarian parenting over time. These findings underscore the need for developmentally appropriate education-based parental interventions acknowledging and targeting parents’ societally driven expectations of girls who manifest ADHD symptoms. Future research examine other youth behaviors that may evoke different parenting styles and behaviors and continue to consider longitudinal analyses across different developmental stages.

Authors

• Valeria Coral Gutierrez, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author

• Emma Lecarie, Arizona State University

• Leah D Doane, Arizona State University

• Mary Davis, Arizona State University

• Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant, Arizona State University