The Impact of Parental Care and Management on the Relationship Between ADHD and Depression in Children

The study investigated how the severity of ADHD symptoms relates to the severity of depressive symptoms in children aged 7 to 9, while also looking at how parental care and management behaviors, as well as parents' own mental health history, might influence this link. Participants included 73 second graders and their primary guardians from a public primary school in Beijing. We gathered data via electronic questionnaires measuring children's ADHD and depressive symptoms, caregivers' management and support behaviors, and the parents' mental health history. Moderation analysis was performed in R. The findings revealed a strong positive association between ADHD and depressive symptoms. Although parental care and management displayed a weak moderating influence, parents' mental health history was a robust and significant predictor of the children's depressive severity. These results highlight the potential of strengthening parental support strategies in non-pharmacological interventions for children struggling with ADHD.