Family communication in adolescents diagnosed with comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.

摘要

Previous research has indicated poor communication in families with a child or adolescent diagnosed ADHD and ODD is common. However, literature that has attempted to understand ADHD and ODD adolescent's view about family communication is scant. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the different levels of family communication between groups of adolescents diagnosed comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder/oppositional defiant disorder (C-ADHD/ODD), single attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (S-ADHD), and control group with no mental health diagnosis. This was important because giving those diagnosed with these disorders rare opportunity to express their view helps expand upon related research and provides better insight into environment and treatment of these disorders. This study is based of the circumplex model of marriage and family. The Family Communication Scale (FCS) was selected to measure outcomes and answered the research questions about different levels of family communication between adolescents diagnosed with C-ADHD/ODD, S-ADHD, and control group. A total of 105 male participants aged 10-18 years participated in the study, 35 in each of the C-ADHD/ODD, S-ADHD, and control groups. Ninety-three (88.6%) participants were Caucasian and 12 (11.4%) participants African American. The data were analyzed used descriptive and inferential statistics such as t test. Results indicated that on average the groups were on a continuum, with C-ADHD/ODD group reporting low, S-ADHD moderate, and control group high level of family communication. This study is significant because family communication is an agent of social change capable of tipping the balance of personal, family, and social development, behavior, and adjustment to life changes or events.