Relationship between parenting stress and ratings of executive functioning in children with ADHD

Executive functioning is important to assess in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Parent report is used to obtain information about a child's executive functioning; however, parent report can be influenced by many factors. This study's hypothesis was that higher ratings of children's executive dysfunction are associated with parenting stress. Parents of 32 children (ages 8-12 years) with ADHD completed the Parenting Stress Index and two executive function rating scales, the BRIEF and CEFS. Stress produced by child and family system characteristics was significantly correlated with composite scores and subscales from the executive function rating scales. Findings suggest that parent ratings of their children's executive functioning appear related to the stress they experience being parents, particularly with regard to their children's challenging behaviors.