Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disordered boys' relationships with their mothers and fathers: Child, mother, and father perceptions

Self-perceptions of parent–child relationship quality were examined for 142 boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 55 control boys. Parent perceptions were examined as well. Mothers and fathers of ADHD boys perceived their relationships with their children more negatively than mothers and fathers of control boys. Interestingly, despite these differences in parental perceptions, ADHD boys did not differ from control boys in their perceptions of their relationships with their parents. Further, when ADHD boys' perceptions were compared directly to those of their parents, ADHD boys' reports were positively enhanced relative to those of control parent–child dyads. Together, these results may be viewed as providing support for a positive illusory bias in the social self-perceptions of ADHD children.