Objectives: Available studies largely and consistently indicate that children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) experience significantly impaired quality of life (QoL). More research is required to enable an enhanced understanding of factors which contribute to the QoL of children with this diagnosis. In relation to children with ADHD, this thesis had two main aims: to review the extent to which children and their parents agree in their assessments of the child’s QoL; and to examine the impact of parent stress on the child’s QoL from both parent and child perspectives. Method: A systematic review of studies reporting matched parent-proxy reported and child self-reported quantitative QoL measures is described in journal article 1. Journal article 2 presents the findings from a cross-sectional, quantitative study involving a matched sample of 45 children with a diagnosis of ADHD, and their parents. Correlation and multiple regression analyses examine the relationship between parent stress and each of the informants’ ratings of the child’s QoL. Results: The findings of the systematic review indicated that in a clear majority of studies, children rated their QoL more highly than their parents. However, cautious interpretation is required as some of the studies were of poor methodological quality. In the empirical study, parent stress emerged as a significant predictor of parent proxy-ratings of child QoL, but not of self-rated QoL. Parents who rated their child’s QoL lower that their children had higher perceived stress than parents who rated their child’s QoL higher than their children. There were no significant differences in self-rated or parent-rated QoL between children with ADHD and children with a learning disability or with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. In line with some previous research, agreement was poorer on psychosocial domains than physical domains. However, due to the relatively small sample size, the empirical study requires replication. Conclusions: The results of the systematic review suggest that parent and child ratings of the child’s QoL are not interchangeable in the context of ADHD. Possible explanations for this trend are discussed. The empirical study suggests that parent stress negatively impacts on children with ADHD, and that it is likely that children’s self-reports are affected by their impaired reflective capacity. Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are discussed in relation to both articles.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The focus of the present review is the quality of life (QOL) of parents caring for a child with epilepsy. The review is informed by published books and articles available on the Psychlit and Medline databases. The paper provides an overview of epilepsy and the problems patients, particularly children, are confronted with. The important roles that parents fulfil in their child's life is followed by a discussion of the stress and burden experienced by parents caring for a child with epilepsy. Descriptions and definitions of the construct QOL are followed by reported research findings on the QOL of patients with epilepsy. The importance of the QOL of parents caring for a child with epilepsy is emphasized and this leads to an examination of existing research on the QOL of these parents. Research on the QOL of parents of children with epilepsy is limited despite the important roles parents fulfil in the life of their child with epilepsy and the potentially negative consequences of these additional roles for the child, the parents and the remainder of the family. Identification and an understanding of the dimensions of QOL of parents that are impacted upon by a child's epilepsy may produce improved treatment outcomes and QOL for children diagnosed and living with epilepsy. Recommendations for future research are included in the present review. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die fokus van hierdie oorsig is die lewenskwaliteit van ouers wat 'n epileptiese kind versorg. Die oorsig is gebaseer op gepubliseerde boeke en artikels wat beskikbaar is op Psychlit en Medline databasisse. Die oorsig voorsien 'n omskrywing van epilepsie asook van die probleme wat pasiente, veral kinders, ondervind. Die belangrike rolle wat ouers in hul kinders se lewe speel word bespreek en dit word gevolg deur 'n bespreking van die stres en druk wat ouers wat epileptiese kinders versorg, ondervind. Beskrywings en definisies van die konstruk lewenskwaliteit word aangebied, gevolg deur 'n opgawe van navorsingsbevindinge oor die lewenskwaliteit van epiletiese pasiënte. Die belangrikheid van die lewenskwaliteit van ouers van 'n epileptiese kind word beklemtoon en dit lei tot 'n oorsig van huidige navorsing oor die lewenskwaliteit van hierdie ouers. Ten spyte van die belangrike rolle wat ouers in die lewe van hul epileptiese kind speel en die moontlike negatiewe gevolge van hierdie bykomende rolle vir die kind, die ouers en die ander familielede, is navorsing oor die lewenskwaliteit van ouers met epileptiese kinders beperk. Identifisering van en insig in die faktore wat 'n impak het op die lewenskwaliteit van ouers met 'n epileptiese kind, kan lei tot verbeterde behandelingresultate en hoër lewenskwaliteit vir kinders wat gediagnoseer word en wat met epilepsie saamleef. Aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing word ook in hierdie oorsig gemaak.