Background & Objectives: Attention–deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric disorder that significantly impairs academic performance as well as interpersonal and social functions. Studies show that parents of children with ADHD, more than parents of children with other psychological disorders, are exposed to the psychological problems of having a hyperactive child. The mental burden and stress of mothers of these children are high, and without treatment, their happiness, quality of life, and physical and mental health will be reduced. In addition, parents of children with ADHD often suffer from other mental health problems, such as social stigma, due to the type of interaction with those around them. People use different emotional adjustment strategies to cope with stressful situations. Cognitive emotion regulation is one of the adjustment methods. It can be defined as a cognitive emotion control method. This study aimed to investigate the role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in predicting the mental burden and perceived social stigma in mothers of children with ADHD.
Methods: The research is a descriptive–analytical study of a correlational type. The study’s statistical population consisted of mothers of children with ADHD whose children were educated in Tehran elementary schools in the academic year 2018–19. A total of 180 mothers of ADHD children were selected using an available sampling method. The inclusion criteria included having a minimum level of education (diploma) and a child with ADHD. The exclusion criterion was their unwillingness to cooperate in this study. The study data were collected using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Garnefski & Kraaij, 2006), Subjective Burden Questionnaire (Zarit et al., 1986), and Stigma Questionnaire (Mak & Kwok, 2010). In the present study, descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression) were used to analyze the obtained data. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software version 21 at a significance level of α=0.05.
Results: Results showed direct and significant associations of adaptive (p=0.001, r=0.71) and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (p=0.001, r=–0.68) with mental tolerance of mothers. There were also direct and significant associations of adaptive (p=0.001, r=–0.65) and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (p=0.001, r=0.73) with perceived social stigma of mothers. The adaptive (p=0.001, β=0.578) and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (p=0.012, β=–0.525) could directly predict mental tolerance and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies more than other components predicted mental tolerance. Maladaptive (p=0.001, β=0.591) and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (p=0.009, β=–0.531) could directly predict perceived social stigma and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies more than other components predicted perceived social stigma.
Conclusion: Based on the research findings, cognitive emotion regulation strategies have an essential role in predicting the social stigma and mental burden of mothers of children with ADHD.