The Power of Recognizing Strengths: Understanding the Negative Impact of Parental Self-Stigma on the Self-Esteem of Children with ADHD
Date
2024-08-26
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Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder affecting children globally (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022). While research has often focused on the challenges associated with ADHD, there is an increasing emphasis on recognizing their unique strengths (Climie & Mastoras, 2015). However, parents of children with ADHD often experience self-stigma, which can inadvertently influence their child's well-being (Li et al., 2019) and self-esteem. The current study investigated the relationships between parents' self-stigma, perceptions of the child's strengths as reported by the parent and the child, and self-esteem in children with ADHD. Moreover, the study explored how the parent's perceptions of the child's strengths might mitigate the adverse effects of parents’ self-stigma on children's self-esteem. The sample consisted of 63 parents and their children diagnosed with ADHD between the ages of 8-17 years (males: n = 42; females: n = 21). A multi-stage statistical analysis approach encompassed correlation, hierarchical regression, and mediation analysis. Findings revealed that parental self-stigma has a significant negative effect on children's self-esteem, while child perceptions of their strengths had a positive effect. Although the direct effect of the parent's perception of their child's strengths on the child's self-esteem was not statistically significant, the indirect effect through parent self-stigma was significant. The results emphasize the need for interventions to support parents in reducing the effects of self-stigma and promote positive parenting practices that recognize and utilize the child's strengths.
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Keywords
ADHD, parent self-stigma, self-esteem, strengths, parents, parents
Citation
Bath, A. C. (2024). The power of recognizing strengths: understanding the negative impact of parental self-stigma on the self-esteem of children with ADHD (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.