Comparison of Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Self-Control and Attachment Styles in Children with Addicted and Non-Addicted Parent

The family is known as the foundation of the child's personality and subsequent behaviors. The aim of this study was to compare Oppositional defiant disorder, self-control, and attachment styles in children with and without addicted parents.

The method of this research is descriptive and causal-comparative. The statistical population of the study included children aged 7 to 12 years, with and without addicted parents in Tehran in 1398. The study sample consisted of 62 children (31 children with addicted parents and 31 children with non-addicted parents) who were selected using available sampling. The research instruments included the Pediatric Symptoms Questionnaire (Gadow and Sprafkin, 1984), the Self-Controlling Assessment Scale (Kendall and Wilcox, 1979), and the Attachment Questionnaire (Collins and Read, 1990). Data analysis was performed by SPSS software version 24 usinga a t-test for independent groups and multivariate analysis of variance.

The findings of this study showed that there is a significant difference between children with and without addicted parents in the variables of coping disorder, self-control, and attachment styles (safe, avoidant, and ambivalent) (p <0.05). Children with addicted parents scored high on confrontational disobedience disorder, avoidant and ambivalent attachment style, and low scores on self-control and secure attachment (p <0.05).

Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that in children with addicted parents, confrontational disobedience disorders are high and have a lower style of insecure attachment and self-control. Therefore, it is necessary to pay more attention to the effects of parenting practices and its consequences.