Enhancing traditional behavioral parent training for single mothers of children with ADHD

Behavioral parent training is a successful treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But single-mother households have a high risk of poor results during and after this type of training. The researchers wanted to compare an enhanced behavioral parent training program called STEPP (Strategies to Enhance Positive Parenting) to a traditional behavioral parent training program and a waitlist control group.

The study randomly put 120 single mothers with children ages 5-12 who have ADHD into three groups: a waitlist control group, a traditional 9-week behavioral parent training program, or the enhanced STEPP program. The traditional program teaches better parenting methods through group discussions, role-plays, and homework. Children also learn social skills in groups. The STEPP program adds things like improved intake procedures, addressing participation barriers, enhancing social support and problem-solving for parents, and integrating parent-child interactions.

The analysis showed benefits of participating in behavioral parent training in general, and the STEPP program specifically, right after treatment. The STEPP program reduced oppositional defiant disorder symptoms, parent impairment, negative parenting behaviors, and parenting stress more than traditional behavioral parent training. It also increased engagement in treatment.

However, the results showed that behavioral parent training does not normalize behavior for most children, and treatment gains are not maintained long-term after either program. While both programs offer immediate benefits, the enhanced STEPP program shows promise for increasing treatment engagement among single mothers of children with ADH

The study's results align with current evidence on established practices in ADHD treatment, particularly the use of behavioral parent training programs. These programs have been shown to be effective in managing ADHD symptoms and improving child and parental functioning in the short term. The study reinforces the notion that a combination of medication and behavioral interventions is often necessary for optimal outcomes, especially in school-aged children.

However, the study also highlights the challenges in maintaining treatment gains over the long term and normalizing behavior for most children with ADHD. This underscores the chronic nature of ADHD and the need for ongoing management and support. The study's findings on the enhanced STEPP program suggest that tailoring interventions to specific populations, such as single mothers, may improve treatment engagement and outcomes.

The study's findings suggest that while both traditional and enhanced behavioral parent training programs offer immediate post-treatment benefits in child and parental functioning, treatment gains are not sustained long term, and behavioral issues in children with ADHD are not normalized for most. The enhanced STEPP program, however, shows promise in increasing treatment engagement among single mothers of children with ADHD.

This study adds to the growing body of research on the effectiveness of behavioral parent training programs for children with ADHD. Readers may also be interested in the following related articles:

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