Household task participation of children and adolescentes with ADHD: a systematic review

• Main Authors: Camila Guimarães Mendes, Marisa Cotta Mancini, Débora Marques Miranda
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Universidade Federal de São Carlos 2018-09-01
• Series: Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional
• Subjects: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; Child; Review
• Online Access: http://www.cadernosdeterapiaocupacional.ufscar.br/index.php/cadernos/article/view/1974/1032

Introduction: In the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the identification of functional impairments in home context is an important feature for the diagnosis. Objective: To evaluate the scientific knowledge regarding household participation of children with attention deficit with hyperactivity and implications for clinical practice. Method: A systematic review was performed using the keywords: “attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity”, “ADHD”, “household chores” and “household task” at PUBMED and SCOPUS. The inclusion criteria adopted were: original articles, in English, studied population composed of children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 6 to 17 years old, and articles available in their complete versions. Results: The search resulted in 43 articles, and only four studies were included. From the analysis of the articles, it was verified that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder perform tasks similar to children with typical development. However, children with ADHD receive more assistance of caregivers than their peers. Age, gender, presence of older sibling, and the importance attributed by parents seem to be associated with increased task performance, while oppositional symptoms, diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and parental stress level seem to be associated with increased care from caregivers. Conclusion: Few studies evaluated household chores participation of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the findings cannot be generalized. Future investigations about other factors of home environment still need to improve the knowledge about the participation of this population and then to guide interventions in clinical practice.