Attribution Processes in Parent-Adolescent Conflict in Families of Adolescents With and Without ADHD

Parent-Adolescent conflict and attributions for that conflict were examined in a sample of 51 families of 13-to 17-year-old adolescents with (n = 29) and without (n = 22) attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adolescents, mothers, and fathers completed questionnaires assessing their conflict and attributions for their parent-adolescent conflict. Adolescents with ADHD and their parents have conflicts over more issues than adolescents without ADHD and their parents. Attributions were not predictive of conflict over and above ADHD status according to adolescent or mother report. Attributions moderated ADHD status in predicting father-reported conflict. Fathers of youth with ADHD who believed conflict was pervasive across contexts and stable over time reported more issues involving conflicts than fathers of youth without ADHD. In addition, fathers of youth with ADHD who believed that conflicts were their sons' or daughters' responsibility were less likely to report more issues involving conflict than fathers of youth without ADHD.