Burden and coping strategies of parents of children with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in Hong Kong: A qualitative study.
Wing Chi Wong, Irene Yuen Fung Wong
PMID 33951337WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of Hong Kong children with ADHD described schoolwork pressure, child dependence, pre-diagnosis distress and emotional strain.
After diagnosis, almost all felt relief and used practical coping such as tutors, acceptance and focusing on non-academic strengths.
Key findings
01Parents described four burdens: academic pressure, child dependence, uncertainty about parenting before diagnosis, and emotional hardship.
02Three coping themes emerged: acting according to the situation, problem-focused methods such as hiring private tutors, and acceptance.
03Almost all parents felt relief after diagnosis, and emotional hardship was described as reduced even though academic and social burdens persisted.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study interviewed only 12 parents from one primary school, so the themes may not fit families in other schools or districts. The school mainly had children with comparatively mild emotional and behavioural symptoms, so it says little about families of children with more severe needs. Parents were recruited through one ADHD supporting class, so parents who did not respond or were not in that class are missing. It describes parents' experiences and coping, not whether diagnosis, tutoring or other supports changed burden. All children had dyslexia, which may have shaped the academic burden and may not represent children with ADHD without dyslexia.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that diagnosis or tutoring reduces parental burden. This was a qualitative study of parents' experiences, and academic and social burdens continued after diagnosis.