Effectiveness of mindful parenting training on clinical symptoms and self-efficacy in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Background: The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders that cause damage in different aspects such as educational, social, and familial. The purpose of this study was evaluation the effectiveness of mindful parenting training on clinical symptoms and self-efficacy in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Methods: This was a clinical trial study with two control and intervention groups in three stages of pre-test, post-test, and two-month follow up. Sixty children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder referred by the child psychiatrists in Kashan city, Iran, during the second half of the year 2016 were selected along with their mothers. The mothers were assigned in two groups using permuted blocked randomization. Children of these mothers in both groups were evaluated in three steps using Morris self-efficacy questionnaire and Swanson, Nolan and Pelham (SNAP-IV) questionnaire. Intervention group received 8 weekly sessions of mindful parenting training based on Kabat-Zinn protocol. The obtained data were analyzed using repeated measurements analysis of variance. Findings: Significant increase of emotional and social self-efficacy and a meaningful improvement of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were seen in intervention group compared to the control group in post-test and follow up (P < 0.001 for all). Conclusion: Mindful parenting training has a significant effect on increasing emotional and social self-efficacy and reducing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in children. © 2017, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.