Finding Fit Between Work and Family Responsibilities When Caring for Children with ADHD Diagnoses
Sponsor
This research and preparation of this manuscript was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Nursing, Nurse Case Management Intervention for ADHD families, NIMH R01 NR005001-04A2 and by grants from the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research, United States Department of Education, and the Center for Mental Health Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NIDRR grant H133B140039) and the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, and from the Center for Mental Health Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services (NIDILRR grant 90RT5030).
Published In
Journal of Child and Family Studies
Document Type
Citation
Publication Date
12-2016
Abstract
Finding fit between work and family responsibilities is challenging for parents, especially when raising a child with mental health difficulties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of children’s problematic behaviors to maternal employment and difficulty combining work and family obligations. Data were analyzed from 174 mothers parenting a child with a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who completed child problem behavior (child behavior checklist), family functioning, and employment measures at baseline and 12 months later. Results from logistic regression analysis indicated that children’s problematic behaviors predicted maternal employment. Structural equation modeling showed that children’s higher baseline scores on the child behavior checklist internalizing scale were related to difficulty combining work and family at 12 months, even after controlling for difficulty of combining work and family at baseline. Children’s externalizing scores were not found to predict difficulty combining work and family responsibilities. Further analysis did not confirm mediation between children’s externalizing and internalizing behaviors, family conflict, and difficulty combining work and family. Given these results, service providers need to more comprehensively address the intersection of children’s mental health difficulties and work–family fit in order to better support caregivers as parents and employees.
Locate the Document
DOI
10.1007/s10826-016-0527-1
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/23141
Citation Details
Sellmaier, C., Leo, M. C., Brennan, E. M., & Kendall, J. (2016). Finding fit between work and family responsibilities when caring for children with ADHD diagnosis. Journal of Child and Family Studies. Advance online publication.