Stress levels experienced by parents of children with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder during the back-to-school period: results of a European and Canadian survey

Abstract

Objective. The back-to-school stress survey was designed to compare stress in parents of children/ adolescents with/without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in six European countries and Canada when children prepare to return to school. Methods. Parents of children/adolescents (6–17 years) with/without ADHD were recruited and interviewed by a consumer research organization. Parents rated potentially stress-causing situations (both standard and specifically related to the return to school) on a scale from 1 (low stress) to 10 (high stress). Mean scores were compared using Student's t-test. Results. In Europe, 613/693 (mean [SD] age: 40.7 [7.0]/40.1 [6.9] years) and in Canada, 102/150 (mean [SD] age: 44.4 [8.1]/44.1 [7.2] years) parents of children with/without ADHD, respectively, participated in the survey. Children with ADHD (mean [SD] age: 11.2 [3.2]/12.6 [3.2] years in Europe/Canada) had generally similar characteristics in both samples. Parents in the ADHD group showed higher stress levels than parents in the non-ADHD group in all situations (p < 0.001 for Europe). The return to school was considered one of the most stressful events during the year. Conclusions. In Europe and Canada, ADHD has a significant impact on parental stress, particularly during the back-to-school period. This can have important implications as parental stress can affect presentation of ADHD symptoms.

Key words::

• Back-to-school stress survey
• ADHD
• online survey
• parental stress
• school

Acknowledgements

Ipsos MORI (London, UK) carried out fieldwork and data collection, but was not responsible for the analysis or reporting of results. McCann Manchester was employed by Shire to manage the back-to-school stress survey project. Under the direction of the authors, Monica Guidi, PhD, an employee of Caudex Medical, Oxford, UK provided writing assistance for this publication. Editorial assistance in formatting, proofreading, copy editing, and fact checking was also provided by Caudex Medical. Shire International GmbH, Switzerland provided funding to Caudex Medical, Oxford, UK for support in writing and editing this manuscript. Antonia Panayi from Shire International GmbH, Switzerland reviewed the manuscript for scientific accuracy. The content of this manuscript, the ultimate interpretation, and the decision to submit it for publication in International Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Practice was made by the authors independently.

Statement of interest

This research was funded by Shire International GmbH, Switzerland. I. Hernández-Otero is an advisor for Shire Pharmaceuticals Iberica, Janssen-Cilag and Eli Lilly; receives research funding from Shire Pharmaceuticals Iberica and Junta de Andalucia; and is involved in clinical trials with Shire and Roche. L. Doddamani is on an advisory board and participates in drug trials for Shire; receives sponsorship from Flynn Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly and Shire to organize conferences and meetings; and participates in meetings sponsored by Shire. B. Dutray has participated in drug trials sponsored by Shire and Eli Lilly; and participated in meetings sponsored by Shire. A. Gagliano has received research grants from Shire and has been a speaker for Novartis and Shire. F. Haertling has received research funding from Shire, Eli Lilly and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He has participated in congresses sponsored by Shire, Novartis, Janssen and Bristol-Myers Squibb. R. Bloomfield is an employee of, and holds stocks and shares in, Shire. G. Ramnath is a member of an advisory board for Shire on treatment individualization.