Predictors of Boys’ ADHD Symptoms from Early to Middle Childhood: The Role of Father–Child and Mother–Child Interactions

This prospective 3 year longitudinal study investigated preschool paternal and maternal parenting predictors of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder(ADHD) in a community sample of 93 school-age boys. Participants were recruited on the basis of inattention-hyperactivity
at age 4 and fathers and mothers were observed interacting with their sons. Teachers, fathers, and mothers reported children’s
ADHD symptoms and impairment. Results from dimensional analysis showed that less observed paternal sensitivity and maternal
positive regard predicted higher levels of inattentiveness in middle childhood, and that intrusive paternal behavior was predictive
of hyperactive-impulsive behavior at school. In categorical analysis, less maternal warmth and sensitivity were predictive
of later ADHD. These predictions held after statistical adjustment for the effects of preschool ADHD behaviors and conduct
problems. At follow-up, parents of boys with ADHD reported more negative child-parent relationship perceptions than comparison
parents. Findings highlight the importance of examining responsive parenting behaviors of both fathers and mothers in relation
to multi-informant ratings of ADHD symptoms.