Marital Satisfaction amongst Parents of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Normal Children

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare marital satisfaction between parents of children with attention deficit hyper activity disorder (ADHD) and parents of normal children. METHOD In this study we have selected 400 parents (200 parents of children with ADHD and 200 parents of normal children), whose children age range was 6-18 years. Data were collected using Enrich marital satisfaction Questionnaire, Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) and Conner's Questionnaire (parent and self-report forms). For data analysis, SPSS software17, bivariate Χ(2)- test, and independent t- test were used. RESULTS The mean of marital satisfaction in parents of normal children was higher than parents of ADHD children. In the bivariate Χ(2)- test, the p value was less than 0.05, and the obtained t was more than the table-t (1.96), so it can be assumed that there is a significant difference between parents of normal children and those with ADHD children in their marital satisfaction. The level of marital satisfaction (strongly agree level) was 2.8% lower among parents of ADHD children compared to parents of normal children. CONCLUSION Findings indicate that parents with ADHD children have lower level of marital satisfaction than parents with normal children.