Efficacy of Positive Parenting Programme in Addressing ADHD Symptomatology and Parental Stress in Southern India

Interventions can have a powerful positive impact in reducing ADHD symptomatology as well as addressing parental stress associated with the behavioural management of children. In this study, the behavioural symptoms of ADHD children, and their association with parental stress, were explored along with assessing the efficacy of the Positive Parenting Programme (PPP) in reducing parental stress and behavioural symptoms, in a south Indian sociocultural context. ADHD children with mild to severe behavioural symptoms were selected from 20 schools in Southern India. As reported by Conner (Manual for the Conners’ rating scales-revised, Multi-Health Systems, 1997), measuring four dimensions, namely oppositional, inattention/cognition, hyperactivity and ADHD index, was used. The level of stress was measured by taking into account positive (emotional benefits and personal development) and negative aspects (restrictions and demands on resources) of parenting, through the Parenting Stress Scale by Berry and Jones (J Soc Pers Relationsh 12:463–472, 1995). Parental stress was reduced more prominently and significantly and there was a significant reduction in pre- and post-mean scores of each dimension of behavioural symptoms through the Positive Parenting Programme (PPP), thus proving the efficacy of the intervention. The study addressed the special needs of parents of ADHD children and focused on positive aspects of parenting. In the South Indian sociocultural context, parents’ vulnerability is questioned and repeatedly put in for a check, increasing their stress level and many times, they resort to social withdrawal. Hence, the need to train parents in PPP while dealing with special needs of ADHD children was felt, to support their adaptive function in school settings and social and executive functioning in society.