Maternal Parenting Styles and Aggression in ADHD Children: The Mediating Role of Executive Function

The family is the first environment in which children grow up and therefore has significant effects on children’s behaviors. The present study aimed to test the aggression model among ADHD children based on maternal parenting styles with the mediation of executive function. This was a descriptive correlational study that was conducted on 200 primary school students with ADHD in Iran. Data collection tools included the Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Baumrind’s Parenting Styles Questionnaire, and the Barkley Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). The results of path analysis suggested the relationship between maternal authoritative and permissive parenting styles with aggression was mediated through executive function (p<.05). The maternal authoritative parenting style has a negative relationship with aggression (p<.001) and executive function problems (p<.001). Also, the maternal permissive parenting style has a positive relationship with aggression (p<.001) and executive function problems (p=.006). Maternal parenting styles can affect the cognitive and behavioral performance of ADHD children.