Dikkat Da n kl A r Hareketlilik Bozuklu u Olan ocuklar n Anneleri i in Bir E itim Program [#51403]-43743
A Training Program for Mothers of Children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder Abstract This study has been on adaptation, implementation and evaluation of a parental training program developed by Cunningham and his colleagues (1998) for parents of children who were diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A total of 41, 24 experimental and 17 control group, mothers who had 6-12 years old children diagnosed with ADHD and received psychiatric help, participated in this pre and post test experimental and wait list control group study in semi experimental design. Program was implemented in the same hospital where children received psychiatric help on a once a week basis for twelve 2 hours length group sessions and a follow-up session after a month interval. Effects of the training were examined through a series of measures filled out by mothers, fathers and children, open ended evaluation of mothers and impressions of the group leader. Changes in mothers’ knowledge about the training, their anxiety and depression, mother child relations, family relations and problem levels of children were investigated. Findings indicated that the training had no effects on fathers or children, but it had effects on mothers. Experimental group mothers were observed to have more knowledge on ADHD, related problems and how to cope with them. They perceived more decreases in their children’s internalizing and total problems and a tendency of drop in their diagnostic symptoms. These positive effects could be increased if fathers and children were included in the training. Widespread implementation of the program in our country where special education opportunities at schools and professional support for parents are very limited is recommended as an important social service. Keywords: Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, Mother Training Program.
