Impact of ADHD on Siblings: Support Strategies

Plain-language summary

Research suggests that having a sibling with ADHD can impact a child's well-being and may be associated with increased psychological risks for the siblings, although the evidence is mixed and more research is needed to fully understand the extent and nature of these impacts. Some parenting programs designed for families with ADHD children may offer support, but their effectiveness on the family unit requires more investigation.

Key findings

• Siblings of children with ADHD may have a slightly higher risk of developing certain psychological challenges, though this doesn't mean it will happen to every child.
• Some research indicates that the overall well-being of siblings can be affected when a brother or sister has ADHD, which highlights the need for family-focused support.
• Parenting programs like '1-2-3 Magic' are perceived by some mothers as helpful for managing challenges related to ADHD within the family, potentially benefiting the family unit.

Studies cited (4)

1. Psychopathological Risk in Siblings of Subjects with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A cross-Sectional Study — Gómez-Álzate AM, Hidalgo-López C, García-Valencia J (2023, Revista Colombiana de psiquiatria, observational)

   DOI: 10.1016/j.rcpeng.2021.03.006

2. Experience and impact of the 1-2-3 magic parent programme for children with ADHD on the family unit from the mothers' perspectives: A narrative analysis — Allen S, Bradley SK, Savage E (2023, Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and community, other)

   DOI: 10.1177/13674935211039933

3. The impact of ADHD on the health and well-being of ADHD children and their siblings — Peasgood T, Bhardwaj A, Biggs K (2016, European child & adolescent psychiatry, other)

   DOI: 10.1007/s00787-016-0841-6 PMCID: PMC5083759

4. Recognition of facial emotion and affective prosody in children with ASD (+ADHD) and their unaffected siblings — Oerlemans AM, van der Meer JM, van Steijn DJ (2014, European child & adolescent psychiatry, other)

   DOI: 10.1007/s00787-013-0446-2