A Dyadic Perspective on ADHD: Adolescent–Parent Reports of Behavioural Problems and Family Functioning.
Diagnosing behavioural problems in adolescents often relies on subjective reports from parents or caregivers. Systemic theory emphasizes the need for multiple perspectives, including those of the adolescent. This study examined the alignment between adolescents' and parents' perceptions of behaviour...
| Published in: | Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 1 - 14 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
| Format: | research tables/charts Journal Article |
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Wiley-Blackwell
Jan/Feb2026
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=191835025&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 191835025 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 10633995 BUX jtl: Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy issn: 10633995 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Jan/Feb2026 vid: 33 iid: 1 pid: 480 pub: Wiley-Blackwell place: Malden, Massachusetts artinfo: ui: 191835025 191835025 191835025 10.1002/cpp.70230 191835025 ppf: 1 ppct: 13 formats: tig: atl: A Dyadic Perspective on ADHD: Adolescent–Parent Reports of Behavioural Problems and Family Functioning. aug: au: Sitnik‐Warchulska, Katarzyna Izydorczyk, Bernadetta Sawicki, Artur Markevych, Iana Szwed, Marcin Lipowska, Małgorzata affil: Institute of Applied Psychology, Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland sug: subj: Children with Disabilities Psychosocial Factors Persons with Mental Disorders Psychosocial Factors Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Physiopathology Parents of Children with Disabilities Psychosocial Factors Patient Attitudes Parental Attitudes Externalizing Behavior Evaluation Internalizing Behavior Evaluation Family Relations Evaluation Family Functioning Evaluation Human Poland Funding Source Child Adolescence Male Female Descriptive Statistics Adult Middle Age Child Behavior Checklist Checklists Scales Externalizing Behavior Risk Factors Internalizing Behavior Risk Factors Risk Assessment Externalizing Behavior Prevention and Control Internalizing Behavior Prevention and Control Pearson's Correlation Coefficient Nonparametric Statistics Data Analysis Software Confidence Intervals Child: 6-12 years Adolescent: 13-18 years Adult: 19-44 years Middle Aged: 45-64 years Male Female ab: Diagnosing behavioural problems in adolescents often relies on subjective reports from parents or caregivers. Systemic theory emphasizes the need for multiple perspectives, including those of the adolescent. This study examined the alignment between adolescents' and parents' perceptions of behavioural problems in ADHD and non‐ADHD groups and explored how family cohesion and flexibility explain the severity of externalizing and internalizing behaviours from both perspectives. Participants included 214 adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and their parents (adolescents: Mage = 11.24, SD = 0.91, 75.23% boys; parents: Mage = 41.92, SD = 6.43, 84.11% mothers) and 514 adolescents without ADHD and their parents (adolescents: Mage = 11.34, SD = 0.75, 51.56% boys; parents: Mage = 42.29, SD = 5.58, 87.55% mothers), from 18 cities in southern Poland. The variables were measured using the ASEBA instruments (Child Behaviour Checklist, Youth Self Report) and the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scales. Data were analysed using Actor–Partner Interdependence Models to examine actor and partner associations within adolescent–parent dyads. More boys were diagnosed with ADHD, showing slightly more externalizing problems than girls. Lower family flexibility predicted externalizing behaviours, with parent‐rated flexibility linked to parent‐rated behaviours, and adolescent‐rated flexibility linked to adolescent‐rated behaviours. Adolescent‐rated family cohesion rated by adolescents predicted fewer externalizing behaviours as reported by parents in the ADHD group and by adolescents in the non‐ADHD group. Internalizing behaviours were linked to family flexibility and cohesion, regardless of the actor (adolescent or parent). The predominance of actor effects indicates that each informant's perception of family functioning is uniquely linked to their own reports of symptoms; given only moderate parent‐adolescent agreement, these perspectives appear complementary rather than redundant. Assessing behavioural problems requires data from both parents and adolescents, as family cohesion and flexibility significantly impact adolescent functioning. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04574414. Summary: Parental reports are the primary source of diagnostic information for adolescents with ADHD, which may limit the assessment of the full ADHD spectrum.In contemporary systemic approaches, individual and family perspectives may differ, with circular interactional patterns shaping the expression and perception of symptoms.Divergence between parental and adolescent perceptions of family dynamics, such as cohesion and flexibility, is likely associated with lower adolescent well‐being and increased behavioural problems.Assessment of behavioural problems, including ADHD, is strengthened by integrating complementary perspectives from adolescents and parents, with family dynamics offering valuable insights into symptom perception. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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