Parental Factors That Confer Risk and Resilience for Remote Learning Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children With and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

J Atten Disord. 2022 Sep;26(11):1381-1393. doi: 10.1177/10870547221084670. Epub 2022 Mar 23.

Abstract

Objective: To test whether parental factors including internalizing symptoms, parenting style, and confidence in assisting with remote learning conferred risk/resilience for children with/without ADHD's learning and emotional outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: 291 parents of children (ages 6-13; n = 180 males) with (n = 148) and without ADHD completed questionnaires online (April-July 2020).

Results: Structural equation modeling identified parental risk/resilience factors. Across groups, risk predicted greater difficulties with learning, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, while parent confidence in educating their child predicted better outcomes. A positive association was observed between parental involvement and child difficulties, which was stronger in families of children with ADHD. Children with/without ADHD did not differ in remote learning difficulties.

Conclusion: Parent factors impacted child emotional and learning outcomes during the pandemic. With increases in remote learning practices, there is a need for improved understanding of how parent factors impact outcomes of children with/without ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; COVID-19; children; parenting; remote learning.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / psychology
  • COVID-19*
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pandemics
  • Parenting / psychology
  • Parents / psychology