PATERNAL STRESS OF CHILDREN WITH ADHD: A SAMPLE FROM ASSER REGION, SAUDI ARABIA

Background: Parenting a child with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can present unique challenges that often result in increased stress levels for parents. The current study aimed to examine the parental stress of children with ADHD in Asser region, southern Saudi Arabia and to correlate the results with different variables.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 54 parents recruited during routine visit to Prince Mohammad bin Salman for developmental disorders Centre in Aseer Region, between march 2022 and October 2023 was conducted. Electronic questionnaire distributed to all participants that include sociodemographic variables, general information about the child and his parents and the Parenting Stress Index: Short Form (PSI – SF) (Arabic version).

Results: The mean (PSI/SF) total stress score was 92 ± 23, with approximately 61.1% of the sample exhibiting clinically significant stress levels (percentiles above 33). The analysis of socio-demographic factors, did not demonstrate statistically significant correlations with parental stress levels (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Within this specific sample, socio-demographic characteristics did not exhibit significant correlations with parental stress. However, the overall parental stress levels, indicate a noteworthy prevalence of elevated stress levels among the participants, irrespective of these socio-demographic factors. Further research and exploration into other unmeasured variables or contextual aspects may provide a more comprehensive understanding of the sources and drivers of parental stress in this sample.