Document Type : Original Article
Researcher
Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran
Ministerial Ethics Committee
The family, as the primary source of support, is vital for children's mental health. Poor family functioning is associated with adverse psychological outcomes and an increase in risky behaviors, including a link to the onset and persistence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Studies show that the relationship between family functioning and ADHD symptoms is not direct and is influenced by mediating factors such as the child’s cognitive abilities, especially cognitive flexibility (the ability to adapt to new and unpredictable conditions). Despite the importance of cognitive flexibility in behavioral problems, its mediating role in explaining the relationship between family functioning and ADHD symptoms remains unclear.
The overall aim is to determine the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between family developmental functioning and attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms in children. This research is descriptive-correlational with a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The statistical population includes parents of children aged 7 to 12 in Tehran. A sample of 350 parents will be selected through convenience sampling. Research tools include the Family Functioning Scale (BFRS), the ADHD Questionnaire (SNAP-IV), and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI). Data analysis will be performed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling to test the direct and indirect effects of the variables.
Evaluating this model will help clinical specialists design multi-level interventions at cognitive and family levels and move towards developing more comprehensive treatment protocols to reduce ADHD symptoms.