Estilos parentais dos pais de crianças com perturbação de hiperactividade e défice de atenção

Abstract

This investigation aims to assess the relationship between the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children and the Parental style adopted in these children’s up-bringing. A consecutive sample of 50 children (36 male and 14 female) between the ages of 5 to 14 years old, with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and an educational representative of each child (parent) was collected. The assessing instruments for this investigation were: the Conner’s Questionnaire for parents and teachers and the Parenting Styles Inventory. The overall results revealed no statistically significant differences between the Parenting Styles adopted by these parents, either for the boys or the girls, as well as the parents´ age presented no influence on Parenting Styles put into practice in the up-bringing of their children. In the diagnostic evaluation of hyperactivity, the parents are more severe than teachers and at the same time there are no statistically significant differences in the assessment of parents and teachers in regards to gender differences. Regarding the evaluation made by parents and teachers, children with ages between 5 to 8 years old present a higher degree of hyperactivity and it is this age group that accounts for significant differences in the educational practice of “physical abuse”, showing higher values in comparison to the age group of 9 to 14 years old. Despite the parents being strict in the diagnostic assessment of their children, the most widely used educational practice is the “Moral Behaviour”. It is hoped that these findings can contribute in this area of research and create effective interventions that enable parents to tailor a parenting style that goes according to the needs that the pathology requires.

Date of Award	16 Dec 2011
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Eleonora C. V. Costa (Supervisor)