The Mediating Effects of Negative Parenting Attitudes on the Relationship Between Child-Reported ADHD Symptoms and Peer Relationships

Objectives This study aimed to confirm the mediating effect of negative parenting attitudes on the relationship between ADHD symptoms reported by children and peer relationships. Methods A total of 340 children in grades 5 and 6 from two elementary schools were administered an offline survey using scales measuring ADHD symptoms, peer relationships, and negative parenting attitudes. Analyses were conducted using SPSS Statistics 22.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY) and AMOS 29.0 to examine the mediating role of negative parenting attitudes on child-reported ADHD symptoms and peer relationships. Results First, child-reported ADHD symptoms were negatively related to peer relationships and positively related to parental negative parenting attitudes, and there was a significant negative relationship between parental negative parenting attitudes and peer relationships. Second, parental negative parenting attitudes partially mediated the relationship between child-reported ADHD symptoms and peer relationships. Third, negative parenting attitudes partially mediated the relationship between child-reported ADHD symptoms, a subcomponent of inattention, and peer relationships. Fourth, negative parenting attitudes fully mediated the relationship between the child-reported subcomponent of ADHD symptoms, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and peer relationships. This means that the higher the child's inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, the more negative parenting attitudes, and the more negative peer relationships. Conclusions Among the main variables affecting children's peer relationships, child-reported ADHD symptoms were modeled in relation to negative parenting attitudes by subtype. The results suggest that parenting attitudes play a pivotal role in the development of children's peer relationships in light of the increasing trend of peer relationship problems in children. Discussion and implications are presented based on the findings.