Evaluating the Relation between Family Functioning and Experienced Caring Load for the Parents of ADHD Children

Background: Attention deficit hyperactive disorder is one of the most common psychiatric disorders. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between family functioning and caring load in parents of ADHD children. Methods: The present descriptive cross-sectional study's population included all the families of ADHD children who were referred to children’s psychiatric clinics. Thirty families were selected using a convenient sampling method and enrolled in the study. Data gathering tools included the Family Assessment Device (FAD) and the Zarit Burden Interview. Results: Of the studied children, 21 (70%) were boys and 9 (30%) were girls. 93.3% (28 children) had experienced severe hyperactivity. 80.1% (24) families had unhealthy functioning, and 47.2% (14) families experienced severe care burden. A significant relation was observed between family functioning and their experienced care burden (p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Considering the relation between family functioning and the care burden on parents of ADHD children, it is necessary to help families decrease behavioral symptoms and experienced care burden by the families by determining the effective factors on family functioning and helping families improve their functioning in controlling hyperactivity disorder.