Parental Monitoring Mediates the Link between ADHD and Adolescent Risky Behavior

Objective: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder is associated with risk-taking behaviors among adolescents. Research has found that children of parents with an authoritative parenting style have the best adaptation and level of functioning, and that parental control is a good predictor of children’s externalization problem.

Method: The study included 86 dyads of adolescents aged 13-18 and one of their parents. Adolescents and their parents filled out questionnaires regarding parental control, risk-taking behaviors and ADHD symptoms and demographic data. Associations between reports of ADHD symptoms, parental monitoring and risk-taking behavior were tested. Specifically, we examined the model according to which the level of parental monitoring mediates the association between ADHD symptoms and risk-taking behavior.

Results: The study found that: adolescents ADHD symptoms were linked to higher engagement in risk-taking behaviors and to lower level of parental monitoring, and that parental monitoring was linked to higher level of risk-taking behavior. Mediation analysis revealed that parental monitoring mediated the link between level of ADHD symptoms and risk-taking behavior.

Discussion and conclusions: The study highlights the role of parental monitoring in ADHD-related risk-taking behavior. The findings can point to the importance of including parental monitoring intervention in treatment programs for adolescents with ADHD.