Οι ψυχολογικές παράμετροι γονέων παιδιών με διαταραχή ελλειμματικής προσοχής / υπερκινητικότητας και γονέων παιδιών με διάχυτη διαταραχή της ανάπτυξης - αυτισμό

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the psychological factors and the sensory dysfunctions of the parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and of the parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For the needs of this study, three groups of parents were formed: Parents of children diagnosed with ADHD (N=32 fathers and N=32 mothers), parents of children diagnosed with ASD (N=32 fathers and N=32 mothers), and parents of children with typical development (N=31 fathers and N=31 mothers). In order to investigate the psychological factors of parents who participated in the present study, the following questionnaire were administered:oΑchenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) (Adults Ages 19-59)-(ASEBA) (Achenbach & Rescola, 2003).oBroad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAP-Q) (Hurley, Losh, Parlier, Piven, Reznick, 2006).oSensory Profile (Adolescent/Adult) (Brown, Dunn, 2002). oSensory Profile (Dunn, 1994). The findings of the study suggest that the parents of children with ADHD reports, in the questionnaire ASEBA, higher scores of the factors «Attention Problems» and «AD/H Problems», in relation to the score that are present in the same factors of parents of the control group. Also, for the parents of children with ASD the scores in all factors of the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAP-Q) were significantly higher in comparison to the control group. From the analysis of the correlations that were carried out in the two groups of parents (ADHD) and (ASD), appear to be certain common indications/traits which should be investigated in future studies.In recent studies, several scientists suggest that individuals with ADHD may demonstrate, also, elements of the ASD. The existence of pragmatic language deficits was considered, since today, as a constant characteristic/trait of ASD. In this study we see that parents of children with ADHD have higher scores in the factor « Pragmatic Language Problems» of the questionnaire «BAP-Q», in comparison to the scores of the control group in the same factor. Finally, as what concerns the sensory dysfunctions of parents of children with ASD and specially the fathers, were significantly more than the fathers of children of the control group who reported deviations from the mean of population as it refers to the Sensory Dysfunctions. Also, the fathers of children with ADHD were significantly more than the fathers of children of the control group they reported a deviation from the mean of population as it refers to the Sensory Dysfunction « Sensation Seeking». The specific Sensory Dysfunction is related to the existence of the ADHD.