Can Better Parenting Prevent ADHD in Children?

00:00 Introduction
00:30 Discussion of trade (internet) media article on a scientific study on parenting in early childhood and risk for ADHD symptoms later in development
02:48 Review of that scientific study itself on child temperament, parenting, and later ADHD
06:08 What is exuberant temperament and how is it related to ADHD symptoms
07:52 Back to further discussion of the study on temperament, parenting and child ADHD
08:30 Discussion of another study on parent and child genetics, parent and child ADHD, parenting behavior, and later ADHD symptoms in the children.
14:28 PowerPoint graph explaining the likely relationship of parental ADHD and their genetics, child ADHD and their genetics, child temperament, and risk for later ADHD
17:57 Conclusion
This video discusses a paper recently summarized in the trade (internet) media on the relationship of early childhood temperament (exuberance), executive functioning (inhibition), parenting styles, and later ADHD in children. Although the results demonstrate a correlation of parenting style with risk for later ADHD in exuberant children, the findings are only correlational. Yet the authors (and the journalist summarizing the study) conclude that the findings show that changing parenting could therefore prevent or reduce the risk for later ADHD in such children. I show how there is just as compelling an alternative explanation, likely more correct, that the undirective, inattentive parenting style shown to be associated with ADHD could easily be a marker for adult ADHD in the parents, which is actually the contributing risk for ADHD in the children. It may not be the parenting style at all or minimally. I then cite a. more recent much larger study that used parent and child genetics, parent and child ADHD symptoms, parenting behavior, and other measures to show that the greatest contribution to risk for child ADHD is parental ADHD and parental genetics. Heritable genetic factors explain 57% of the variance in child ADHD severity of symptoms while parenting behavior contributes only 2% of the variance in child risk for ADHD symptoms. Thus it is likely that alterations in parenting style would likely not prevent or reduce the risk for ADHD in exuberant children, who are likely already manifesting the early signs of ADHD given the nature of exuberant termpament.
References
Anderer, J. (2024). Can parents prevent their kids from developing ADHD? StudyFinds website. studyfinds.org/parents-preven...
Lorenzo, N. et al. (November 2023). The Developmental Unfolding of ADHD Symptoms from Early Childhood Through Adolescence: Early Effects of Exuberant Temperament, Parenting and Executive Functioning. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology. link.springer.com/article/10....
What is exuberance? Google search page. www.google.com/search?client=...
Kleppesto, T. H. (November 2023). Intergenerational transmission of ADHD behaviors: genetic and environmental pathways. Psychological Medicine. www.cambridge.org/core/journa...

[@GerritADHS]

That is a really smart way to look at it. It proves what I observe in my job as a high school teacher. In my class (15 kids, 6 of which are diagnosed with ADHD), many of the parents who appear to show less appropriate methods of parenting, are ADHD themselves. Talking openly about my ADHD helps them in being open about their struggles.

[@islandsicedtea]

well ADHD can also be genetic. My dad has undiagnosed adhd and I have diagnosed adhd so I can tell it probably came from him.

[@GerritADHS]

@@islandsicedtea it clearly is, as Dr. Barkley says in the video.

[@magickrod]

I can relate with that, my daughter was profiled as high IQ, anxious and perfectionist by a proper neuropsicologist, and I'm ADHD. She started struggling at school with similar behaviors as mine, but with proper guidance we are able to control, even without her previous school showing unwillingness to follow the local laws for giftedness. I can only admire a teacher that goes the extra mile for this. Her new teacher also is willing to learn with me and an expert that I hired to help me with the school interface. Unfortunately it is rare to find a school that understands this situation in my country. Cheers!

[@blastypowpow]

@@islandsicedteaMy family has some ASD and ADHD that seems to be genetic. My mother was a wonderful parent and it’s definitely not her fault that I have a neurological condition. She was also folic acid deficient during pregnancy. That’s a risk factor for ASD. I have extreme folic acid deficiency. I’m homozygous for the allele for deficient folic acid processing. My psychiatrist genetically tested me to see which meds may or may not work best for me and that’s when we found it. Now I know why my bloodwork always has the lowest folic acid possible. I’ve had GERD since I was 5!! That’s not normal at all. I feel I straddle a line between ASD and ADHD. I wasn’t always exuberant as a child. I was shy, but I did have meltdowns no one understood at the time. I was socially awkward and shy, but once I knew someone I couldn’t shut up. It’s like I have two committees in my brain that argue with each other. Haven’t they imaged brains in studies where you can see the difference between the neurotypical brain and the ADHD brain or am I wrong? I think they know for a fact that our brains have key differences from neurotypical people. I keep trying to learn more about my brain and Dr Barkley is a wonderful and trustworthy source! I’ve told many people I know with ADHD to check out his content. If it wasn’t for him, I’d know far less about my brain and behaviors. I’d never get a doctor like him with Medicaid in my state(southern NJ). It’s a shame. I need help to fix my life and I can’t find a doctor around here that specializes in adult ADHD and ASD. There’s a 1-2 year waiting list when you’re on Medicaid in NJ to get a counselor or psychologist. I put myself on many, but never get a call back. My significant other has regular insurance and he got a psychologist appointment in two days!! Our mental health system is so broken for people on Medicaid.

[@KingcoleIIV]

I hate studies like the first one, it's low effort and tries to say something that is false. Thank you for showing us these studies 🙂

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Then you won’t like the one that came out today in the media saying that ADHD has evolutionary advantages. It’s a very poor study. I will cover it next week.

[@mysteryblondee]

Your videos have changed my life! As someone with ADHD who aspires to become a clinical psychologist PhD someday, thank you for sharing research and knowledge with the world-it's extremely important! P.S. Congratulations on your recent retirement and your new home!

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Thank you! Wishing you all success in your studies.

[@qataripekarsky]

YES!!! Thank you for pointing out the original study focused on inhibitory control (not all of the executive functions commonly associated with ADHD) and as always, for reiterating that correlation =/= causation. You're my hero! ♡

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Very kind of you. Thanks!

[@susanhughesadhdparentcoach]

As an ADHD parent coach, I've been watching this story be used so many times during the week. I knew it was misinterpreting data but I'm so grateful for your analysis. Thank you so much for explaining how to view the study. I will share with my community.

[@miekedewilde7318]

A big thank you for voicing this. The finding that the parental behaviour influence was found to be only 2% in this study actually made me cry with relief. It counters the guild and shame we pick up in so many social settings. And thanks for repeating the importance of how big a study population is, and what a correlation is not necessarily telling us, we can hardly repeat that enough.

[@magickrod]

Awesome, I was looking for this because my daughter was formally "diagnosed" as gifted with high IQ and anxiety, but I'm ADHD. She started showing some behaviors similar to mine of inhibition and excessive excitement, and not following guidance to rest when she gets frustrated. But after I restarted my treatment with meds and therapy, I was able to guide her more, and her situation improved a lot. Also asking her school to understand her better (and follow local laws for giftedness) improved a lot. I feel much less the rejection sensitivity while talking to her teacher or her supervisor, or getting lost with the subject when we have meetings. So it's not a cause, indeed, but taking care of the extra risks.

[@Voreen5960]

Thank you so much - I have 3 generations of adhd that I know of. All female, I’m the 2nd generation & only recognized it in myself recently.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Same in my family. At least three generations of which my late fraternal twin was one. Stay safe and well.

[@sallyunderwood66]

I was diagnosed last year at the age of 56, and yesterday, my therapist was talking with me about being neglectful in relationships, which I have been. I have also appeared disinterested in my partners, which was only true part of the time. This also mirrors my upbringing, as my Dad was more than likely ADHD. Dr. Russell gives me a different framework for thinking about this, the main one being that it could not have been any different. I used to spend hours analysing myself to work out why I was so odd, but thankfully, the therapist I have now is more interested in working out what I can do about it and helping me understand better how friendships work.

[@s.m.4948]

Oh, and this is a question unrelated to the video above. Recently, ADHD child had a full IQ test. The "Cognitive Ability" score was very high, while the "Cognitive Proficiency" -- the Working Memory and, especially, the Processing Speed -- was significantly lower. Apparently, this is a common profile among bright ADHD children. In spite of my poor working memory (har har: Mom joke!), I recall you speaking often about Working Memory as it relates to ADHD. But I'm not sure I understand the role that Processing Speed plays in regards to intelligence, or even how it impacts the day-to-day life of someone with ADHD. I would be grateful if you might consider educating us about this issue. Thank you.

[@AmandaJuneHagarty]

I would point out that the traits you mentioned of exhuberant children could also put them at risk of having harmful and traumatic encounters with others during their early life, which could increase behavioral health issues. Though trauma and behavioral health consequences don't have a statistically significant causal relationship with ADHD, I am sure they could worsen the expression of ADHD in a child.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

So true. Other studies find they disregard risk and engage with others even strangers too often. Not always good to do.

[@mnoxman]

There is a relationship between one or both parents, and/or supervisory adults having (even a mild) a mental disorder (e.g. mild to severe Narcissism) and a child displaying ADHA/ADHD like behavior. Research in to the distinction between a child displaying Hyper Activity/Apathy and the child having suffered one or more forms of conditioned helplessness should be done.

[@RaptieFeathers]

I wanted to take a moment to thank you. Your lectures and videos over the years have helped me get over a 100 adults on medication to treat their ADHD. That's between people who hadn't bothered to get diagnosed all the way up through those who had just stopped taking medication You are saving so many lives with this ❤

[@bentehove3945]

A Danish study has recently found 37 genetic ‘point’ changes …

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Yes. And likely more to come. Thanks!

[@omarelrefaie2091]

Hi Dr Barkley, great video and congrats on your new studio and set-up! I suggest that you edit videos (like this one for example) to create another shortened version with the take-home messages and upload it to youtube shorts alongside the main video. Short-form videos are king when it comes to increasing reach on KZbin and spreading important messages like what is covered in this video. I personally prefer long-form videos and appreciate your detailed analysis and I imagine that having a short attention-grabbing version could greatly complement your regular uploads.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Thanks for the suggestion. I am always open to learning better ways to operate the channel. While it is really more of a hobby for me, not a job, it can be improved. Thanks!

[@KimGreene-vk1yz]

Thank you for putting this out there. Now if we can get this message to the masses or media. I'm so tired as a parent of being told if I just was stricter, firmer, etc, etc. I am busting my butt to turn out a wonderful child in a hard world. Yes, I have innattentive adhd and anxiety, like my child.

[@Queenread82]

Thank you for this. As a late diagnosed ADHD parent (now grandparent) I am working through "failure" guilt. I also had chronic pain (also late diagnosed EDS) so add that to the sporadic parenting. (My kids are doing fairly well, it wasn't horrible). Anyway, the whole "everything is because of your parenting" attitude is toxic so debunking this article is necessary.

[@PVVI2015]

Thank you once again! You are my source for information. I do appreciate that in your retirement years you are still actively helping us make sense of all the information that comes at us about ADHD. I’m 75 and I have ADHD, only diagnosed 2 years ago after some of my grandchildren were assessed. I believe one of my daughters has ADHD, but our relationship is fragile and as yet we have not discussed this. I can see how my ADHD issues impacted my parenting and feel very sad about that. I believe diagnosis and treatment for parents with ADHD can help with their parenting even though it can’t prevent the genetics aspect.

[@maryannnichols1043]

Thank you for explaining this in a way we can all understand, and for teaching us so much.

[@joshuaterhune9758]

Love the new microphone! It makes your voice sound so soothing :)

[@AmandaJuneHagarty]

By the way. Nice job on the studio. I always appreciate the substance of your videos and the way that you present things in an easily absorbed fashion. But I also think it's totally legit to start upping your KZbin game once your channel has proven successful and this seems like a great time to do it. I hope one day I get over my perfectionistic procrastinating and create as helpful and educational a channel as yours.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Thanks Amanda. You will do it.

[@lambs5258]

It's kinda scary how these type of (flawed) conclusions are drawn & reported on, even by people who are like... educated researchers. You'd think they would look deeper rather than just taking the face-value conclusion of correlation = causation. Like how did it not occur to them that maybe those parents have ADHD which might be a bigger influence? This stuff can cause so much damage if people just accept it as fact. It feeds myths and stigma, which there's already too much of. It seems to imply the myth of "bad parenting causes ADHD" also, nice new studio and mic! It sounds great!

[@christied3645]

Thank you for sharing this. It means a lot to me - as a parent who really puts in so much effort to try to be the best parent I can be!

[@verymuchgerman]

Thank you!

[@publius9350]

Why did you not mention the Romanian orphanage cases that have seven times higher ADHD? I think you address the question quickly in the conference that is now over a decade old - can lack of parenting affect ADHD development when severe, or is that a different causality in your opinion such as nutrition? Basically, are there cases where lack of parental care begins to have the effect of environmental trauma, particularly in infancy? I generally agree about predominant genetic effect, but sometimes this is mentioned and it is notable.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Good question. But as Michael Rutter showed in his studies of these children, they suffered from maternal and paternal alcoholism and in utero exposure among other toxins, were often malnourished, suffered abuse in the grossly under staffed orphanages, where they were also malnourished, and were severely deprived of social contact. He argued that their form of ADHD was more severe and qualitatively different from the genetic, familial kind we often see. Al of these factors would have had significant impact on brain development. I would have to agree.

[@Sarcasmarkus]

​​@@russellbarkleyphd2023I don't know about this Romanian study, so i wonder what lead those children to loosing their parents and if their parents had ADHD which lead to their alcoholism or if ADHD in their families could have indirectly lead to their being in orphanages in some other way. I keep hearing about there being a higher % of people in the prision systems being neurodivergent and having mental health issues, so there could be something like that.

[@irisviel_Einzbern]

Very thankful videos! Please make video about mild to somewhat moderate ADHD individual as a psychologist, or if they can perform well in clinical settings rather than research considering executive deficits and how it causes problems

[@Queenread82]

Office looks great!

[@MrLilleblomst]

Thank you for another informative and well-made video. I have a question about the parental behavior effects on the worsening of symptoms/suppress positive development. Our personality and reactions are partly shaped by our upbringing. Since ADHD has a strong genetic factor, it is not uncommon to see traits in one of the parents. It seems to me a significant part of the expressed ADHD are caused by environmental damage to their development. It could be lack of trust, respect and compassion. Absence of respect and acknowledge of accomplishments and low expectations, and acceptance of bullying and various forms of abuse. The environment reacts to you, so anyone with a condition will, in various degrees, experience more abuse and harmful social environmental factors than those without diagnoses. Isn't it, partly, unavoidable that a child with ADHD also suffers from environmental damage that strengthens the symptoms of ADHD and delays, or prevent, positive development? It seems to me that the environment and parental style (some don't seek medical help) is just as forming as the condition itself.

[@gabylee6964]

That's very interesting I wish more people I know would had lost to Dr R Barclay

[@s.m.4948]

Way to go on your new home, your new "studio" and your new equipment; you sound fabulous, Dr. B! Would you please help us understand what "less directive parenting" means? I have ADHD and I feel as though I'm giving my ADHD offspring directions all day, every day... but I suspect that's not what is meant by "directive parenting."

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

It refers to inconsistent and inattentive parenting that provides less guidance of the child’s activities.

[@s.m.4948]

@@russellbarkleyphd2023 Thank you.

[@alrighttumbleweed4782]

Haha glad the Dad jokes are back Super Russ

[@FarmerGwyn]

Interesting, I would suggest that this needs further research. When we talk about 'parenting styles', these would be typical or stereotype styles, what if we were to look at parents that actually understand ADHD be they ADHD themselves or not and know exactly the best way for intervention? For example, take emotional dysregulation, a 'good' parent without ADHD understanding is just not going to understand how to respond, they may encourage a child to be calmer but without being able to explain and help the child understand why they are over responding to their emotions it may not have much of an impact. But when you get to the level of getting the child to understand why they are doing what they are doing, it may well have a much higher impact. Same kind of thing with education, a 'good' parent might encourage a child to study more, is not going to have much impact on a child with ADHD, however a parent that has learnt that an ADHD child needs to study a little different and intervene as such will have a notable impact. Now, can I get a research grant to do this study? 😂

[@gravity00x]

Granted!

[@FarmerGwyn]

@@gravity00x🤣🤣🤣 Tank You.

[@gravity00x]

❤@@FarmerGwyn

[@insidiatori9148]

Hi there Barkley, maybe a weird question but could you maybe make an explanation video about how stimulant medication in blood is dependent on metabolism and how the time it has effect is dependent on the half life inside the body? I have a feeling nurse practitioners have a misconception that the medication goes from 0-100 after each dose while realistically when you take the next dose 50% of your previous dose is counted on top of you new taken dose.

[@insidiatori9148]

Or ofcourse correct me where I am wrong! :)

[@jessicalee7494]

Can genetic testing in parents and child, help diagnose?

[@DC-oh1um]

Dear Dr Barkley, is it possible that a parent has dormant or very mild adhd traits (therefore not considered a disorder)? Also, do we know about adhd skipping generations? Many thanks !

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Yes, parents can be carriers of genes but not manifest traits or have mild traits that are not impairing, as we often see in relatives of those with the disorder.

[@ALADDIN22091978]

I have ADHD and autistic traits, people say my father has the equivalent of full Asperger’s syndrome.

[@christinaduffy6618]

Wow. As a devoted and present Mom that has one kid with it, I think that article is ridiculous.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Vastly over interpreted for sure.

[@TALKADHD]

Hi, I know this is slightly off topic but kind of on as well. I saw someone quoting you as saying that due to executive functioning deficits those of us with ADHD will always function below the level of our peers. The example they used was a child of 10 on average functions like a 5 or 6 year old, therefore an adult of 30 functions like a 20 year old so and so on? I'm wondering what you're actual thoughts on that are? Expecially as a parent of late teens, while I see differences in EF between my sons and their peers I don't see them as that wide, nor in deed with myself as a 50 year old.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

Those are my opinions but you can’t use the 30% delay rule after 30 as that is when frontal lobe development is likely to end. So it applies mostly to kids and young adults in my opinion. After age 30 the level one had at 30 is likely to continue thru life. But remember this is really just a clinical rule of thumb, not a definitive result from research. See my videos on delayed executive functioning age. Be well.

[@TALKADHD]

@@russellbarkleyphd2023 I really appreciate your time there. At some point I'd love to have you on the podcast as well.

[@TALKADHD]

Re Podcast appearances. Is this something you would be interested in? We'd love a discussion with you about the role of ongoing research into supporting those with ADHD and how understanding has changed during the span of your career.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

No thank you. I am turning them all down now that I am retired. @@TALKADHD

[@TALKADHD]

@@russellbarkleyphd2023 Rats. You were on our tick list. But understand you need to enjoy retirement.

[@markwinter2990]

Good parenting makes ADHD hard to diagnose.

[@207skifam]

Are the adhd genes recessive or dominant?

[@nicholasgannon6545]

Are there any studies of children that are genetically predisposed to develop ADHD, 1) Being adopted at birth and raised by genetically determined neurotypical parents? 2) Having a neurotypical step-parent in the primary household. 3) ADHD child’s parents getting divorced, and the child being primarily raised by the neurotypical parent vs the ADHD parent.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

There are studies comparing adopted away children to those raised by their biological parents that generally show that later personality, intelligence, and risk for neurodevelopmental disorders all correlate with their original biological parents, not their adopted ones. See my video on parents are shepherds, not engineers.

[@LucarioBoricua]

Why is there so much insistence that ADHD is either a learned behavior caused by bad parenting, or worse, by deliberate bad behavior from the person (child, teen or adult)? This doesn't come only from parents, but also educators and even from a good number of mental health professionals who do not treat the disorder with the seriousness it merits, often due to sticking to outdated misconceptions about it.

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

It’s a long story but psychiatry, cia Freud, and psychology, via Watson and Skinner, and their subsequent apostles all preached that problem behaviors were either due to poor parenting or social learning, via poor parenting. We are seeing the last vestiges of these deep seated cultural views concerning parenting that arose long ago before any appreciation of the role of genetics and biohazards in the genesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. Thanks for asking and for watching. Be well.

[@ingengenvej6177]

Are there any studies that have looked at what influence the surrounding social environment has on a child's ADHD symptoms, here I am thinking of daycare centers, schools, clubs? Greetings from, chairman of the ADHD Association's local on the island Bornholm, Denmark

[@russellbarkleyphd2023]

No so much in terms of whether they cause ADHD, which they don’t, but in terms of the behavior management strategies and structure of the overall environment can exacerbate or improve those symptoms. There is a lot of research on behavior management in schools for those with ADHD including my own book on the subject. Altering management methods can make a considerable difference in both reducing symptoms and also improving impairments in those settings even if the latter are not causes of disorder. Be well.

[@WeareClarkeNation]

Too many variables in this study - does the school make a difference? Friendship groups? Sounds a bit Gabor Mate - I thought ADHD was genetic not other.

[@petreang]

Of course bad parenting is present in parents of ADHD children and is highly negative for children mental health, as smoking during pregnancy damages child's physical health. No reason to relax or feel less guilty about that. Guilt towards others we mistreat is normal and healthy.