Author(s)

Maribi Maria Benita Balagan¹, Maria Caridad Tarroja²

¹Cagayan State University, Tuguegarao City, Philippines.
²De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a lifelong disorder; hence, poor management may lead to adverse functional outcomes that may persist into adulthood. Pediatric ADHD is a major stressor for parents and may result in a problematic parent-child interaction. Therefore, the aim of this study, which employed the consensual qualitative research method, was to explore the challenges, coping strategies, and needs of mothers with children diagnosed with ADHD. The participants were 10 mothers with children with ADHD aged 6 - 11 years, selected through purposive sampling. Data from in-depth interviews were analyzed and the domains and categories were identified. The results indicated that major challenges for mothers included the child’s academic problems, physical aggressiveness, stubbornness, as well as the family’s financial difficulties. Participants used both adaptive and maladaptive strategies to cope with their hampered physical, emotional, and social well-being. Based on the findings, mothers’ most pressing needs are education related to ADHD and improving their parenting skills; hence, a psychoeducational program on parenting, awareness about ADHD, and self-management is proposed.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Caregiver Challenges, Caregiver Coping Strategies, Caregiver Needs, Interventions for Caregivers

Balagan, M. and Tarroja, M. (2020) Challenges, Coping Strategies, and Needs of Mothers with Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Implications for Intervention. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 8, 24-35. doi: 10.4236/jss.2020.812003.