Family Dysfunction and Emotion Regulation in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Yufei Song

doi:10.71222/t0cppy83

Authors

Yufei Song The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71222/t0cppy83

Keywords:

family dysfunction, adhd, emotion regulation, child development, family relations

Abstract

Children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently experience profound difficulties extending significantly beyond the core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In daily family, school, and peer contexts, many children with ADHD also exhibit severe emotion regulation problems. These challenges typically manifest as heightened irritability, impulsive anger, low frustration tolerance, and a markedly slow recovery from negative emotional states. Consequently, these difficulties can severely impair their interpersonal relationships, classroom adjustment, and overall psychological well-being. This paper comprehensively examines how family dysfunction may influence and exacerbate emotion regulation deficits in children with ADHD. Utilizing an in-depth literature analysis and theoretical review, this study discusses family functioning, emotion regulation mechanisms, and ADHD-related developmental characteristics from a holistic family systems perspective. The analysis suggests that family dysfunction adversely affects children's emotion regulation through several distinct pathways. Specifically, frequent family conflict increases baseline emotional arousal; insufficient emotional support weakens emotional recovery capacities; inconsistent parenting disrupts rule expectations; high parental stress leads to maladaptive responses; and negative emotional modeling limits the acquisition of adaptive regulation strategies. These interconnected processes intensify emotional outbursts and parent-child conflict. Therefore, clinical support for children with ADHD should not focus exclusively on individual symptoms. Greater attention must be directed toward family-based support interventions, comprehensive parent training, stable family rules, and positive emotional communication. Ultimately, improving family functioning provides an essential context for promoting adaptive emotion regulation and facilitating better long-term developmental outcomes in children with ADHD.

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