Comparison of mothers' oxytocin levels and attachment styles who have children with attention deficit hiperactivity disorder with the healthy controls

Objective: Studies have been conducted on ADHD and attachment theory; however, there aren't many studies on the association between attachment forms of children with ADHD disorder and the comparison of these with oxytocin. We aimed to test the hypothesis that in our study the mothers of children with ADHD had more insecure attachment styles and lower oxytocin levels from controls. Material and Method: 30 children between the ages of 4 and 16 who were being followed by Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Polyclinic with a diagnosis of ADHD, 30 healthy children and biological mothers of these children participated in the study. The participants' psychiatric diagnoses were made after DSM-5 based clinical interviews. The mothers filled in Sociodemographic Data Form, Relationship Scales Questionnaire, Adult Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Self-report scale, Wender Utah Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Scale and gave 10 cc venous blood in the morning hours between the second and fourth days of the end of their period. Results: Association was found between ADHD and maternal preoccupied attachment. However, no significant association was found between maternal groups in terms of oxytocin level. Inverse association was found between ADHD diagnosis and mothers' level of education and state of having an occupation, while a direct association was found between the mothers' having an active psychiatric disease and being exposed to violence at home. Anxiety, depression and previous ADHD diagnosis were found to be significantly high in the mothers of children with ADHD. No association was found between oxytocin and attachment styles and ADHD diagnosis. Conclusion: In our study, association was found between mothers whose children had ADHD and preoccupied attachment. Assuming that this attachment style has been developed by interacting with the child's psychopathology, it can be predicted that mothers' support for childrearing attitudes will positively contribute to the child-mother relationship.