The Relationship Between Maternal Stress and Boys' ADHD Symptoms and Quality of Life: An Australian Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study prospectively examined the role of maternal stress in boys' attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and quality of life (QoL). METHODS: Children with ADHD (5-13 years) were recruited from 21 pediatric practices and followed up 12 months later (n = 166). Maternal stress was examined at baseline, and boys' ADHD symptoms and QoL were examined at baseline and 12 months later. Linear regressions examined whether baseline maternal stress predicted child ADHD symptoms and QoL 12 months later in a series of adjusted models that accounted for child age, ADHD medication use, neighborhood disadvantage, comorbidities and baseline ADHD symptoms or QoL (full model). RE..