This study examines the child-rearing practices of mothers of children
afflicted with ADHD and the consequential stresses, depression, and
self-worth created by the problematic behaviors of their children. The
purpose of this study is to raise awareness of the severity of the
psychologically problematic situation faced by mothers of ADHD-affected
children. And by thoroughly examining and analyzing this situation, this
study reveals that efficient parenting should be approached on a
social-psychological level rather than a personal level. First, observation and
counseling has been conducted on 19 boys and 10 girls, between the ages of
7 and 8 who had been diagnosed with ADHD (using the ADHD assessment
rate for children (CATRS)) before the age of 6 and have been on medicine
for at least 1 year, 29 mothers, between the ages of 40 to 45, of
ADHD-affected children, and finally 36 mothers, between the ages of 40 to
45, with unaffected children between the ages of 7 and 8 for a period of six
months. An examination that was created based on Baumrind’s study on
parenting style typologies(1991) by Goyetche was used for the parenting
styles of the mothers. It was found that more than 80% of the mothers who
participated in the study were parenting in a very authoritarian and
excessively controlled method in respect to the symptoms of ADHD in
children. The depression rate was calculated using Beck’s Depression
Inventory:BDI, the parenting stress rate was found using the Parenting
Stress Index/Short Form: PSI/SF(1997) and the Rosenberg Self Esteem
Scale(SRES) was used for the self esteem rate. The results show that
mothers of children diagnosed with ADHD had levels of stress, depression,
and self-esteem significantly different compared to mothers of children with
no ADHD.