OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE AS A PREDICTOR OF HEALTH AND WELLBEING AMONG MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH ADHD

Background: A founding assumption underlying occupational science is the belief that there is a strong relationship between engagement in occupations, health, and wellbeing. Raising a child with special needs disturbs the... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
A founding assumption underlying occupational science is the belief that there is a strong relationship between engagement in occupations, health, and wellbeing. Raising a child with special needs disturbs the balance of family life and mother’s daily routine is especially affected. The purpose of the study was to assess the contribution of occupational performance (occupational competence and settings) and role load to the health and life satisfaction (subjective wellbeing) of Arab mothers of children with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and to assess differences between the two groups in these variables.
Method:
Participants included 40 Israeli-Arab women ages 25 to 40 years. Half were mothers of children with ADHD and half were mothers of children without ADHD. Mothers completed four self- report questionnaires.
Results:
Mothers to children with ADHD reported significantly lower occupational performance, mental health, physical health and life satisfaction than mothers to children without ADHD. Occupational competence and occupational settings predicted mothers’ mental health and life satisfaction.
Conclusion:
Results suggest that enhancing mothers’ occupational competence and settings may increase their health and wellbeing. This study highlights the need to focus on aspects of maternal occupational competence and settings when providing intervention to children with ADHD as they affect mothers’ health and wellbeing.
Application to Practice:
Study results reinforce the basic assumption underlying occupational science regarding the strong correlation that occupation has with health and wellbeing and demonstrates their effect among mothers to children with ADHD.