The effectiveness of group positive parenting program on parental stress of mothers of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND The present study examined the influence of group positive parenting program on parental stress of mothers of children with attention-deficient/hyperactivity disorder. Mothers of 13 children aged four to ten years, who met attention-deficient/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis by assessment of a child psychiatrist and clinical psychologist were selected from two child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of Tehran. To control the drug effects, researchers chose children who took methylphenidate (Ritalin) since six months before. METHODS The group programs consisted of a six-weekly session of two hours duration, plus two telephone educational sessions, each one lasting 15 minutes. Group was run by an experienced clinician who followed a specific training manual to ensure a standard format. These sessions continued with eight participants, because five of 13 mothers did not attend the classes. RESULTS The results indicated that group positive parenting program caused mothers to experience lower stress. A two-month follow-up showed the stable efficiency of the program. CONCLUSION This study revealed that the competency feeling and couples' harmony--as intervening variables--about nurturing the child were improved.