The effectiveness of parent-child interaction intervention on behavioral problems of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of parent-child interaction intervention
on behavioral problems of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
This research was a quasi-experimental study withpretest-posttest and a control group. The
SNAP-IV-Rating Scale (Swanson, Nolan, & Pelham, 1980) andChild Behavioral Problems
Checklist (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) were used. The selected sample consisted of 60
students aged 6 to 11 years with attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder and their mothers.
These students were referred to the clinics and diagnosed with ADHD by a psychiatrist. The
parent-child interaction intervention program was applied for experimental group in 15 one-hour
sessions (two sessions per week for 8 weeks).
Findings showed that after the intervention, the scores of experimental group for the internalizing
problems (anxiety, physical complaints and depression) and externalizing problems (breaking the
law and aggression) decreased significantly in children (P <0.05).
Based on the findings, the implementation of the parent-child interaction-training program can
reduce the internalizingand externalizingproblems of children with attention deficit /
hyperactivity disorder.