The relationship between the family drawings of ADHD children and, their perceived parental attitudes and anxiety levels

Objective: ADHD is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders seen in childhood and it is often associated with other disorders such as learning disorders, developmental language pathologies, internalizing and externalizing problems. It is crucial to recognize and treat these comorbid disorders when we are planning the treatment of ADHD. The aim of this study was to explore whether there is a relationship between the family drawings of ADHD children and their perceived parental attitudes and anxiety levels. Method: Study group included 36 children aged between 7 and 13 and their mothers. The children were applied Parental Attitude Scale, Kinetic Family Drawings Test, The State Trait Anxiety Inventory. The mothers filled out Conner's ADHD Parental Rating Scale ve Sociodemographic Data Form. Results:The parental attitudes were significantly different between the groups. While the trait anxiety levels of ADHD children were higher compared to control group, the state anxiety levels were not significantly different. Moreover, it is found that the family drawings of ADHD children were significantly helpful in predicting the trait anxiety levels of these children. Conclusion: In conclusion, projective drawings of children can be suggested as an important tool in the clinical assessment of ADHD children. Key Words: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, family drawing, projective test, anxiety