School of Public Health
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/1633
The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.
Note: Prior to July 1, 2007, the School of Public Health was named the College of Health & Human Performance.
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Item PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH ADHD: COGNITIONS, EMOTIONAL, AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES TO ADHD SYMPTOMS(2017) Salazar, Jaimeleigh Mercedes; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The present study investigated the association between the cognitions and coping related traits of parents of children with ADHD and their behavioral and emotional responses to their child’s symptoms. Current research on ADHD suggests that diagnosis of this neurodevelopment disorder is rising, and parents of children with ADHD face challenges such as increased stress, burdens of the parenting role, and potentially tense relationships with their children. However, there has been a lack of research on relations among parents’ behavioral, emotional, and cognitive responses to their children’s ADHD behaviors. This study collected primary online survey data from 100 parents of children with ADHD who were members of the national organization CHADD. Degree of child ADHD behavior, parent coping related traits, and parent negative attributions about the child were associated with parent anger, anxiety, limit-setting behaviors, and encouraging/coaching behaviors. Research and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.Item The relationship of early social, mental, and behavioral experiences with adult obesity and Alcohol Use Disorder(2016) O'Neill, Allison Hunt; Lee, Sunmin; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Stressful life events early in life, including symptoms of mental disorders or childhood maltreatment, may increase risk for worse mental and physical health outcomes in adulthood. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the effects of childhood Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and maltreatment experience on two adult outcomes: obesity and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Mediational effects of adolescent characteristics were explored. This dissertation used Waves I, III, and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. In Paper 1 (Chapter 3), we investigated the association between multiple types of child maltreatment and adult objective (body mass index; BMI) and subjective (self-rated) obesity, as well as mediating effects by adolescent characteristics including depressive symptoms and BMI. Results showed that after adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, and maternal education, physical maltreatment was moderately associated with adulthood obesity as measured by BMI and self-reported obesity, while sexual maltreatment was more strongly associated with the objective measure but not the subjective measure. The indirect effects of mediation of adolescent BMI and depressive symptoms were statistically significant. In Paper 2 (Chapter 4), the objective was to examine mediation by adolescent depressive symptoms, alcohol consumption, peer alcohol consumption, and delinquency in the relationship between ADHD symptoms and adult AUD. The indirect effects of mediation of adolescent delinquency, alcohol consumption, and peer alcohol consumption were statistically significant in single and multiple mediator models. In Paper 3 (Chapter 5), the objective was to assess the joint effects of maltreatment/neglect on adult AUD. After adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, child maltreatment, and parental AUD, ADHD symptoms were significantly associated with increased odds of AUD. There was no strong evidence of multiplicative interaction by maltreatment. This association was stronger for males than females, although the interaction term was not statistically significant. This dissertation adds to the literature by examining relationships between several major public health problems: ADHD symptoms, childhood maltreatment, AUD, depressive symptoms, and obesity. This project has implications for understanding how early life stress increases risk for later physical and mental health problems, and identifying potential intervention targets for adolescents.Item Parents' Stress and Coping with Their Children's Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(2006-06-28) Mitchell, Mary Moser; Beck, Kenneth H; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)In a previous study, the National Institute of Mental Health enrolled 579 children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a stimulant medication. ADHD affects 3-5% of children before age 7 and is characterized by difficulties in controlling impulsive and hyperactive behaviors and/or paying attention. Studies of children with ADHD indicate that the disorder can be extremely disruptive to family functioning. While the original NIMH study examined the children's outcomes, this investigation explored quality of life among the parents of these children. Quality of life was considered in terms of emotional well-being and social functioning. Various studies within the health psychology discipline have suggested that coping strategies, social support, and stress appraisal significantly influence and predict quality of life. It was hypothesized that stress appraisal, social support, coping skills, and symptom severity would predict quality of life indicators (i.e. spouse relationship, parent/child relationship, and psychological/emotional functioning) for parents. This main effects hypothesis was tested using baseline data and using longitudinal data, while controlling for baseline measures. The second set of hypotheses proposed that social support and coping skills would moderate the relationship between stress appraisal and quality of life. These relationships were tested using the baseline data as well as the longitudinal data, while controlling for baseline measures and a variety of covariates (i.e. demographic variables). In addition, the relationship between objective stressors and stress appraisal was tested, as well as the direct effects of objective stressors on the quality of life outcomes. A combination of structural equation modeling and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Stress appraisal was the most consistent and strongest predictor of quality of life outcomes for parents. Social support, coping, and symptom severity played significant, yet modest roles in prediction. Objective stressors significantly predicted stress appraisal as well as the quality of life indicators. These results indicated support for both the main effects and moderating hypotheses. Recommendations for health educators seeking to develop intervention programs for this population of parents were offered.