A Dyadic Perspective on ADHD: Adolescent–Parent Reports of Behavioural Problems and Family Functioning

Fuente: Wiley Open Access
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Katarzyna Sitnik‐Warchulska, Bernadetta Izydorczyk, Artur Sawicki, Iana Markevych, Marcin Szwed, Małgorzata Lipowska
Format: Artículo Open Access
Published: Wiley 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1867008231764656128
author Katarzyna Sitnik‐Warchulska
Bernadetta Izydorczyk
Artur Sawicki
Iana Markevych
Marcin Szwed
Małgorzata Lipowska
author_facet Katarzyna Sitnik‐Warchulska
Bernadetta Izydorczyk
Artur Sawicki
Iana Markevych
Marcin Szwed
Małgorzata Lipowska
Katarzyna Sitnik‐Warchulska
Bernadetta Izydorczyk
Artur Sawicki
Iana Markevych
Marcin Szwed
Małgorzata Lipowska
collection Wiley Open Access
contents A Dyadic Perspective on ADHD: Adolescent–Parent Reports of Behavioural Problems and Family Functioning Katarzyna Sitnik‐Warchulska Bernadetta Izydorczyk Artur Sawicki Iana Markevych Marcin Szwed Małgorzata Lipowska Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy ABSTRACT Diagnosing behavioural problems in adolescents often relies on subjective reports from parents or caregivers. Systemic theory emphasizes the need for multiple perspectives, including those of the adolescent. This study examined the alignment between adolescents' and parents' perceptions of behavioural problems in ADHD and non‐ADHD groups and explored how family cohesion and flexibility explain the severity of externalizing and internalizing behaviours from both perspectives. Participants included 214 adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and their parents (adolescents: Mage = 11.24, SD = 0.91, 75.23% boys; parents: Mage = 41.92, SD = 6.43, 84.11% mothers) and 514 adolescents without ADHD and their parents (adolescents: Mage = 11.34, SD = 0.75, 51.56% boys; parents: Mage = 42.29, SD = 5.58, 87.55% mothers), from 18 cities in southern Poland. The variables were measured using the ASEBA instruments (Child Behaviour Checklist, Youth Self Report) and the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scales. Data were analysed using Actor–Partner Interdependence Models to examine actor and partner associations within adolescent–parent dyads. More boys were diagnosed with ADHD, showing slightly more externalizing problems than girls. Lower family flexibility predicted externalizing behaviours, with parent‐rated flexibility linked to parent‐rated behaviours, and adolescent‐rated flexibility linked to adolescent‐rated behaviours. Adolescent‐rated family cohesion rated by adolescents predicted fewer externalizing behaviours as reported by parents in the ADHD group and by adolescents in the non‐ADHD group. Internalizing behaviours were linked to family flexibility and cohesion, regardless of the actor (adolescent or parent). The predominance of actor effects indicates that each informant's perception of family functioning is uniquely linked to their own reports of symptoms; given only moderate parent‐adolescent agreement, these perspectives appear complementary rather than redundant. Assessing behavioural problems requires data from both parents and adolescents, as family cohesion and flexibility significantly impact adolescent functioning. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04574414. 10.1002/cpp.70230 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor
doi_str_mv 10.1002/cpp.70230
format Artículo Open Access
id wiley_oa_10_1002_cpp_70230
institution Wiley Open Access
license_str_mv http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor
publishDate 2026
publisher Wiley
record_format wiley_oa
spellingShingle A Dyadic Perspective on ADHD: Adolescent–Parent Reports of Behavioural Problems and Family Functioning
Katarzyna Sitnik‐Warchulska
Bernadetta Izydorczyk
Artur Sawicki
Iana Markevych
Marcin Szwed
Małgorzata Lipowska
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
A Dyadic Perspective on ADHD: Adolescent–Parent Reports of Behavioural Problems and Family Functioning Katarzyna Sitnik‐Warchulska Bernadetta Izydorczyk Artur Sawicki Iana Markevych Marcin Szwed Małgorzata Lipowska Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy ABSTRACT Diagnosing behavioural problems in adolescents often relies on subjective reports from parents or caregivers. Systemic theory emphasizes the need for multiple perspectives, including those of the adolescent. This study examined the alignment between adolescents' and parents' perceptions of behavioural problems in ADHD and non‐ADHD groups and explored how family cohesion and flexibility explain the severity of externalizing and internalizing behaviours from both perspectives. Participants included 214 adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and their parents (adolescents: Mage = 11.24, SD = 0.91, 75.23% boys; parents: Mage = 41.92, SD = 6.43, 84.11% mothers) and 514 adolescents without ADHD and their parents (adolescents: Mage = 11.34, SD = 0.75, 51.56% boys; parents: Mage = 42.29, SD = 5.58, 87.55% mothers), from 18 cities in southern Poland. The variables were measured using the ASEBA instruments (Child Behaviour Checklist, Youth Self Report) and the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scales. Data were analysed using Actor–Partner Interdependence Models to examine actor and partner associations within adolescent–parent dyads. More boys were diagnosed with ADHD, showing slightly more externalizing problems than girls. Lower family flexibility predicted externalizing behaviours, with parent‐rated flexibility linked to parent‐rated behaviours, and adolescent‐rated flexibility linked to adolescent‐rated behaviours. Adolescent‐rated family cohesion rated by adolescents predicted fewer externalizing behaviours as reported by parents in the ADHD group and by adolescents in the non‐ADHD group. Internalizing behaviours were linked to family flexibility and cohesion, regardless of the actor (adolescent or parent). The predominance of actor effects indicates that each informant's perception of family functioning is uniquely linked to their own reports of symptoms; given only moderate parent‐adolescent agreement, these perspectives appear complementary rather than redundant. Assessing behavioural problems requires data from both parents and adolescents, as family cohesion and flexibility significantly impact adolescent functioning. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04574414. 10.1002/cpp.70230 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor
title A Dyadic Perspective on ADHD: Adolescent–Parent Reports of Behavioural Problems and Family Functioning
topic Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
url https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpp.70230