Discrepant Parent-Adolescent Reports of Gaming: A moderating role of family functioning in ADHD

To compare the relationships between symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), family functioning, and gaming problems reported by adolescents and parents. Adolescents with ADHD (N = 144) reported their gaming behaviors and perceived family functioning. Parents reported pre-treatment ADHD/oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms and gaming problems in their children. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to test the associations of ADHD/ODD symptoms, family functioning, and their interaction with gaming problems. The results based on parent and adolescent reports were compared. Subdomains of family functioning were also explored. Overall ADHD/ODD (B = 4.36 [95% CI 2.65, 6.06], p < .001) and all three domain symptoms (inattentive: B = 3.59 [95% CI 1.86, 5.32], p < .001; hyperactive: B = 2.73 [95% CI 0.94, 4.52], p = .003; ODD: B = 4.42 [95% CI 2.72, 6.12], p < .001) were positively associated with gaming problems reported by parents, but not adolescents. Family functioning was negatively associated with gaming problems regardless of informants (parent reports: B = −3.24 [95% CI −4.98, −1.50], p < .001; adolescent reports: B = −3.35 [95% CI −4.81, −1.89], p < .001) but modulated the relationship between overall ADHD/ODD and inattentive symptoms and gaming problems based on parent reports only (both p = .020). Moderating roles of general functioning and affective involvement subdomains of family functioning were also highlighted. ADHD/ODD symptoms are positively associated with gaming problems reported by parents but not adolescents, probably reflecting reporting bias. Improving family functioning could be protective against problematic gaming in the ADHD population.