Cognitive–Behavioral Group Training Mothers in Reducing Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity in Children

Attention to deficit/hyperactivity disorder as a clinical syndrome that is characterized by persistent attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder with impulsive behavior. The study aimed to investigate the group cognitive–behavioral training of mothers in reducing attention deficit/hyperactivity in their children.

This study was quasi–experimental with pretest, posttest and follow–up designs with a control group. A total of 30 mothers of children with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder with 6 to 12 years old based on a public call, structured clinical interview and DSM–5 diagnostic criteria were selected. Participants voluntary and randomly were assigned to 15 mothers in an experimental group and 15 mothers in a control group. The experimental group (mothers) received the group cognitive–behavioral training according to the pattern 10 sessions Barkley (1990), 2 sessions of 90 minutes per week, respectively. Mothers of the control group received only one session on dealing with their children. Conners parent questionnaire (1990) used in the research. The questionnaire has 26 items; each question has a 4–point Likert scale. Conners proved that the questionnaire had acceptable reliability and appropriate validity. For the data analysis, repeated measures analysis of variance was used.

Analysis of variance with repeated measures revealed that the experimental group had a decrease in both attention deficit and hyperactivity than the control group in the post–test and follow–up stages (first and second months after) (p0.001). 

The results showed that training mothers of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity, increased attention and decreased hyperactivity over their children.