(PS1-C59) Moderating Effects of Parent ADHD, Depression, and Self-esteem on Causal Relations Between Managing Disruptive Child Behavior and Aversive Parent Responses

Managing disruptive child behavior is challenging for parents, as it can trigger aversive parent responses (i.e., negative parenting, negative interparental communication, worsening affect). Yet, it may be especially difficult for certain parents to manage disruptive child behavior. For example, evidence indicates parents reporting low parenting self-esteem or elevated symptoms of depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at risk of aversive parent responses when managing disruptive child behavior. In the present study, we sought to examine whether parenting self-esteem and symptoms of depression/ADHD moderate causal links between managing disruptive child behavior and aversive parent responses.
 

Ninety parent couples were randomly assigned to interact with a 9- to 12-year-old confederate acting as either a “disruptive child” with ADHD and ODD or a “typical child” without disruptive behaviors. Observers coded parenting and interparental communication behaviors. Parents also completed measures of parenting self-esteem, ADHD symptoms, depression symptoms, and affect before and after the interaction. Each parent also rated their partners’ communication and parenting behaviors.
 

Linear regression analyses revealed numerous significant 3-way (Parenting self-esteem x depression/ADHD x confederate status) interactions predicting aversive parent responses. Mothers reporting low parenting self-esteem and high ADHD symptoms were most likely to indicate worse negative affect when managing the disruptive confederate (R2 = .238). Mothers reporting low parenting self-esteem and high depression symptoms were most likely to indicate worsening negative affect (R2 = .224) and had partners report negative interparental communication (R2 = .266) when managing the disruptive confederate. Fathers reporting low parenting self-esteem and high ADHD symptoms were most likely to indicate worsening negative affect (R2 = .460) and had partners report negative interparental communication (R2 = .343) when managing the disruptive confederate. Fathers reporting low parenting self-esteem and high depression symptoms were most likely to indicate worsening negative affect (R2 = .376) and had partners report negative interparental communication (R2 = .332) and negative parenting behavior (R2 = .385) when managing the disruptive confederate.
 

Findings extend the current literature by highlighting that parents reporting low parenting self-esteem and elevated symptoms of depression/ADHD are especially susceptible to responding aversively to managing disruptive child behavior. If replicated, these results suggest the potential value of using parenting self-esteem and psychopathology as a screener for who should receive behavioral parent training interventions. Future research should seek to identify mechanisms (e.g., change in negative affect) that account for the relationship between managing disruptive child behaviors and negative parent outcomes, such as aversive parenting behavior and interparental discord for parents who report both low parenting self-esteem and high psychopathology symptoms (i.e., depression, ADHD).