ADHD On The Red Carpet: Determining Goals and Skills of African-American Parents in the Management of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Qualitative Study

African-American children underutilize mental health services compared with Caucasian children, even when controlling for sociodemographic factors and mental health need. Little is known about why current treatment modalities for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are less often pursued by African-American families, or what strengths African-American parents possess in effectively managing children with this disorder.

The purpose of this study is to use a strengths-based approach to determine African-American parents’ goals and skills for management of children with ADHD.

Four, 90-minute focus groups were conducted to identify African-American parent beliefs about proper management of ADHD. A clinical vignette was used to discuss parents’ knowledge of ADHD topics and barriers to mental health services. Sessions were audiotaped, transcribed, and evaluated using thematic analysis.

Sixteen parents participated in the focus groups. The following key strengths were identified: (1) parents often advocated for a balanced view of the affected children, since family, friends, and educators often focused solely on problem behaviors, (2) parents identified doctors and educators as important people with whom they communicate regularly to make management decisions about their children with ADHD, and (3) parents recognized their own emotional well-being as affecting their success as parents. Consequently, many parents stated that group therapy and counseling had been helpful in managing their children’s behavior. Parents desired more knowledge about ADHD themselves, and also wished there was greater public awareness about ADHD.

African-American parents identified key strengths in their management of children with ADHD. These strengths can be used to create culturally-tailored behavioral interventions for ADHD.