A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study to Assess Maternal Attitude and Self-esteem Between Children Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by three core symptoms: Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Studies suggest that, in addition to these core symptoms, children with ADHD may develop behavioral problems that interfere with their general well-being, social skills, academic performance, and parental care. These issues may lead to poor self-esteem and negative parental attitudes toward the child. So, our study is to compare self-esteem and maternal attitude between children diagnosed with ADHD and their unaffected siblings. Methods: This is a cross-sectional comparative study. The participants included 85 mothers with their children diagnosed with ADHD and their unaffected siblings. Self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), while maternal attitude was measured using the Index of Parental Attitude (IPA) Scale. Results: The mean age of both groups was 12 years. The mean maternal attitude score toward children with ADHD was 69.45, compared to 14.88 for unaffected siblings, indicating higher maternal stress and a negative attitude toward children diagnosed with ADHD. The mean self-esteem score was 17.37 for children with ADHD and 21.52 for unaffected siblings, indicating significantly lower self-esteem in children with ADHD ( P value < .001). Conclusion: Children with ADHD had lower self-esteem and faced more unfavorable maternal attitudes compared to their unaffected siblings. This highlights the need for increased awareness and education about ADHD, in addition to medical treatment.