Parental Stress Levels Among Parents of Children with ADHD: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iraq

Objective: This study aimed to assess the levels of stress experienced by parents of children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Najaf Governorate, Iraq, and explore associations with socio-demographic characteristics.

Methods and Materials: A descriptive correlational cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 to January 2024 in Najaf. A total of 96 parents of children with clinically diagnosed ADHD were recruited from psychiatric clinics and neurodevelopmental centers using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic variables and the Arabic version of the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF), covering three dimensions: Parental Distress (PD), Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction (PCDI), and Difficult Child (DC). Data were analyzed using SPSS v27, employing descriptive statistics and inferential tests such as ANOVA and Pearson correlation.

Findings: The mean age of participating parents was 34.5 years. Most were mothers (78.1%), married (88.5%), and unemployed (64.6%). The majority of children were boys (61.5%), of school age (60.4%). Parental stress scores across all dimensions (PD, PCDI, and DC) fell within the “typical stress” range. The total mean score was 126.56 (SD = 18.72), corresponding to 70.31% of the maximum possible score. No significant indications of clinically high stress levels were identified.

Conclusion: While parents of children with ADHD experience notable caregiving challenges, the overall stress levels in this sample remained within normal limits. These findings highlight the importance of individualized support strategies based on family context rather than assuming universally high stress.