The Effect of Childhood ADD/ADHD on Parental Workforce Participation

J Atten Disord. 2019 Mar;23(5):487-492. doi: 10.1177/1087054716680076. Epub 2016 Nov 19.

Abstract

Objective: This research aimed to examine the impact of attention deficit disorder (ADD)/ADHD in children on parental labor force participation across different child age groups.

Method: This study utilized a longitudinal, quantitative analyses approach. All data were collected from Wave 6 of the Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) survey.

Results: After adjusting for various confounders, mothers whose children were 10/11 years old and had been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD were significantly more likely to be out of the labor force compared with those mothers whose child had not been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. The impact was more pronounced for single mothers. No significant influence on paternal labor force participation was found.

Conclusion: In assessing the cost-effectiveness of interventions for ADD/ADHD, policy makers and researchers must consider the long-term social and economic effects of ADD/ADHD on maternal workforce participation when considering costs and outcomes.

Keywords: ADD/ADHD; family impact; health economy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / economics*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / epidemiology
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Employment / economics*
  • Employment / statistics & numerical data
  • Fathers / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mothers / statistics & numerical data*
  • Workforce / economics*
  • Workforce / statistics & numerical data