Department of Psychology

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Browsing Department of Psychology by Subject "Aandagtekort"

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    Gesinsaanpassing, ouerskapstyle en hanteringstrategiee in gesinne met kinders met 'n aandagtekort/hiperaktiwiteitsversteuring (AT/HV)
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2011-03) Tancred, Elise-Marie; Greeff, A. P.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterised by impulsiveness, an inability to maintain attention and hyperactive behaviour. The presence of a child with ADHD is a stressor that has a significant impact on family adaptation. The purpose of this study was to identify associations between parenting styles, coping strategies and the adaptation of families with children with ADHD from a family resilience perspective. Family resilience refers to the ability of a family to re-evaluate challenging life situations or stressors in such a manner as to develop resilience, so that the family adapts, recovers and becomes stronger as a result of the experience. Some 102 South African families with previously diagnosed children with ADHD between the ages of 5 and 13 years participated in this study. A single cross-sectional research method was used. Quantitative data was collected by means of a biographical questionnaire and three self rapporting questionnaires. The results of this study confirmed existing theories and previous research of a similar nature. The Pearson correlation coefficient analysis revealed strong positive correlations between dimensions of the authoritative parenting style (connection, autonomy granting and regulation) and of re-evaluation and mobilisation (as coping strategies). The authoritative parenting style also correlates strongly with family adaptation. The three dimensions of the authoritarian parenting style (physical coercion, verbal hostility, and non-reasoning) have a strong negative correlation with family adaptation. Physical coercion also has a positive correlation with the coping strategy looking for spiritual support. The coping strategy passivity, in turn, showed a negative correlation with the authoritarian parenting style. Also the permissive parenting style correlates negatively with the coping strategy re-evaluation and passivity, while it also correlates negatively with family adaptation. A regression analysis further revealed medication, connection and regulation (as dimensions of the authoritative parenting style) as the best subset predictable variables, with family adaptation as the dependent variable. A mixed repetitive model with ANOVA-measures was used to identify differences between parents. Mothers obtained higher scores for connection, autonomy granting and authoritative parenting than fathers. The biographical data generally supported previous research findings. There was a strong genetic link between parents and children with ADHD (51% of parents also indicated that they were diagnosed with ADHD), 78% of the children used medication and 34% of the children had co-morbid conditions. The findings of this study fill a gap in the literature about the impact of parenting styles and coping strategies on the adaptation of families with children with ADHD. Further research is urgently needed to help South African parents of children with ADHD learn productive coping styles in order to improve family adaptation.