Factors Associated with Participation of Children With and Without ADHD in Household Tasks

Abstract

Children's preparation for adult roles and independent living occur largely through participation with their families in home routines including household tasks. This preparation may involve learning related to family roles, socialization, and occupational performance. This study was designed to explore the extent to which child, environmental, and task factors are associated with household task participation by school-aged children, 9 to 11 years of age, with and without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Forty-four parents of children with and without ADHD completed a series of measures that examined family routine frequency and importance, parenting stress, parenting sense of competence, and a measure of their children's participation in household tasks. Child's age, the presence of an older sibling, and the importance of family routines were significant predictors of the number of household tasks performed by children. Diagnosis of ADHD, the presence of an older sibling, and parental stress were significant predictors of the amount of assistance the children required to do the household tasks.

KEYWORDS:

• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• family routines
• occupational development
• participation
• preparation for adult roles