Structural modeling of the ADHD severity based on family functioning and self-differentiation the mediating role of marital satisfaction in mothers

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most common behavioral disorder in childhood and adolescence, affecting about 3% to 5% of children below the age of seven. This complication is more common in children in early school and adolescence, and many patients enhance with age. The aim of this study was a structural model of the severity of ADHD based on family functioning and self-differentiation considering the mediating role of marital satisfaction in mothers.

In this correlational study, the statistical population consisted of all female ADHD children and their mothers in Tehran in 2021. A total sample of 210 ADHD children was selected through the purposive sampling method. The study tools consisted of: Family Functioning of McMaster, Self-differentiation of Skowron and Schmitt, Conyers Severity of child’s ADHD, Erhardt & Sparrow and Enrich Marital Satisfaction Olson, Fornier & Derakman. The proposed model was evaluated using a structural equation modeling.

Results showed significant direct paths except for the family functioning path to the severity of the child’s ADHD. Significant indirect pathways were found for family functioning with the severity of child’s ADHD with mediating role of marital satisfaction, and for self-differentiation with the severity of child’s ADHD with mediating role of marital satisfaction.

The proposed model showed an acceptable fitness to the result and an important step in recognizing the effective factors in the severity of child’s ADHD of children.