Assessing The Efficacy of Brief Individual Parental Training Programme in the Initial Stress Level of Mothers Having Children With ADHD

Abstract

The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Brief Individual Parental Training Programme in reducing the initial stress levels of mothers with children diagnosed with Attention deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Ten mothers of children with various subtypes of ADHD were recruited from the Community-Based Disability Management and Rehabilitation Programme (CDMRP) at the University of Calicut, based on specific inclusion criteria. The CDMRP initiative is funded by the Social Justice Department of the Kerala Government. Initially, three pre-assessments were conducted to evaluate both the mothers and their children to ensure they met the study criteria. Following this, the mothers completed two checklists: one to assess their knowledge about ADHD and another, the Family Dynamic Checklist, to measure the perceived support they received from their families. The intervention consisted of seven therapy sessions, each addressing specific areas. The first two sessions focused on psycho educating the mothers about ADHD. The next two sessions aimed to equip mothers with strategies to educate their families about the condition and foster better management with the support of family members. The final two sessions emphasized enhancing the mother-child relationship, particularly in managing the child’s cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges. Post-intervention, stress levels in the mothers were reassessed, and data analysis was conducted using percentage analysis and paired sample t-tests. The results indicated that, while mothers received some support from their families, they initially had limited awareness of ADHD and its broader implications. The training programme significantly improved both the mothers’ understanding of the condition and their ability to manage their child’s needs. The pre- and post-assessments showed notable improvements in the children’s behaviors and the mothers’ coping abilities. Overall, the intervention proved effective in empowering mothers to manage their children with ADHD more comprehensively.