Psychosocial adjustment and peer competence of siblings of children with Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Preliminary data examined the relationships between mothers, their sons with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and younger siblings. We hypothesized that the conflict between the mother and the son with ADHD would also occur in the relationship between the child with ADHD and the younger sibling. Significant associations were found among ADHD behaviors, family conflict variables, conflict in the relationship between mother and child with ADHD, conflict in the relationship between mother and younger sibling, and conflict in the relationship between the child with ADHD and the younger sibling. Further, significant associations were found between behavior symptoms associated with ADHD and more problematic family relationships. Of particular interest was the finding of an unexpected inverse association between siblings' peer competence and mother-ADHD conflict; specifically, that conflict occurring at home from ADHD accounted for a greater percentage of the variance in peer competence as rated by teachers. Recommendations are made for future research with larger samples, alternative designs, older siblings, and fathers.