ADHD Symptoms and Academic Adjustment to College: The Role of Parenting Style
Journal of Attention Disorders: A Journal of Theoretical and Applied Science
Published online on February 14, 2013
Abstract
Objective: The primary aim of this study was to examine relationships among parenting style, symptoms of ADHD, and academic adjustment in college students. Specifically, we investigated whether parenting style may act as a buffer in the negative relationship between ADHD symptoms and academic adjustment. Method: Participants were 200 undergraduate students attending a large public university. Questionnaires measuring their ADHD symptoms, parent’s parenting style, and academic adjustment were completed. Results: Results indicated small but significant moderation effects for authoritarian parenting and authoritative parenting on the relationship between ADHD symptoms and academic adjustment. Conclusion: Although research has revealed that different parenting styles may relate to different outcomes in children with ADHD, for young adults, the effects of parenting on academic adjustment may be diluted. Future research should investigate variables that may be more salient predictors of functional outcomes for this population, such as organizational skills. (J. of Att. Dis. 2012; XX(X) 1-XX)