ABSTRACT

In this study it was aimed to investigate the trait anger and anger expression levels of mothers who had a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and to determine the relationship between these anger levels and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The study group included 40 children aged 7 to 13 years who were admitted to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic consequtively and diagnosed to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and their mothers. Thirty age- and education- matched healthy children and their mothers constituted the control group. Trait Anger Expression Inventory was filled by mothers in both groups to evaluate trait anger and anger expression of mothers who had children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were assessed with Conners Parent Rating Scalerevised long form. Trait anger levels of the mothers who had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were higher than those of the controls, and there was a positivite correlation between the level of anger out and cognitive problems-inattentiveness and social problems subscales of Conners Parent Rating Scale-revised long form. Higher trait anger levels in mothers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may be related to chronicity of this disorder. Informing mothers about understanding and coping with anger may contribute to the prevention from the negative effects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.