{"title":"Pilot Randomized Trial of the Parental Friendship Coaching+ Program for Parents With Elevated ADHD and/or Depressive Symptoms.","authors":"Sophie Smit, Sébastien Normand, Amori Yee Mikami","doi":"10.1177/10870547261474912","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Many parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience mental health challenges that may hinder engagement in behavioral parent training. This pilot randomized trial evaluated the feasibility and acceptability, and explored preliminary parent-related outcomes, of <i>Parental Friendship Coaching+</i> (PFC+). PFC+ is an engagement-enhanced adaptation of Parental Friendship Coaching (PFC) for parents with elevated ADHD and/or depressive symptoms raising children with ADHD and peer difficulties. PFC trains parents to support their child's friendships through social coaching.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Thirty-three Canadian parents (<i>M</i><sub>age</sub> = 38.9 years; 97% mothers) were randomized to 6 weeks of PFC+ (<i>n</i> = 18) or waitlist control (<i>n</i> = 15). Afterward, control parents received PFC+, while PFC+ parents entered naturalistic follow-up. PFC+ included participation-enhancing adaptations (e.g., one-time workshop, flexible coaching, online delivery) and connection-promoting adaptations (e.g., extended intake, treatment menu, peer-pairing).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>On primary outcomes of treatment engagement, session completion was 97%, homework adherence averaged 81%, and alliance ratings were strong. Exploratory parent-related outcomes included parenting stress, parenting competence, and parenting behavior pre- to post-program. Compared to controls, PFC+ parents reported greater parenting competence and friendship facilitation, and reduced criticism, with medium but nonsignificant effects. In contrast, children reported declines in parents' positive involvement and friendship facilitation, and co-parents reported mixed, nonsignificant effects. Parenting stress declined in both PFC+ and control groups.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Findings support further evaluation of PFC+ as a potentially scalable, engagement-focused adaptation of behavioral parent training for families facing parent mental health barriers.</p>","PeriodicalId":15237,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Attention Disorders","volume":" ","pages":"1423-1437"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Attention Disorders","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547261474912","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/8/7 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Many parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience mental health challenges that may hinder engagement in behavioral parent training. This pilot randomized trial evaluated the feasibility and acceptability, and explored preliminary parent-related outcomes, of Parental Friendship Coaching+ (PFC+). PFC+ is an engagement-enhanced adaptation of Parental Friendship Coaching (PFC) for parents with elevated ADHD and/or depressive symptoms raising children with ADHD and peer difficulties. PFC trains parents to support their child's friendships through social coaching.
Method: Thirty-three Canadian parents (Mage = 38.9 years; 97% mothers) were randomized to 6 weeks of PFC+ (n = 18) or waitlist control (n = 15). Afterward, control parents received PFC+, while PFC+ parents entered naturalistic follow-up. PFC+ included participation-enhancing adaptations (e.g., one-time workshop, flexible coaching, online delivery) and connection-promoting adaptations (e.g., extended intake, treatment menu, peer-pairing).
Results: On primary outcomes of treatment engagement, session completion was 97%, homework adherence averaged 81%, and alliance ratings were strong. Exploratory parent-related outcomes included parenting stress, parenting competence, and parenting behavior pre- to post-program. Compared to controls, PFC+ parents reported greater parenting competence and friendship facilitation, and reduced criticism, with medium but nonsignificant effects. In contrast, children reported declines in parents' positive involvement and friendship facilitation, and co-parents reported mixed, nonsignificant effects. Parenting stress declined in both PFC+ and control groups.
Discussion: Findings support further evaluation of PFC+ as a potentially scalable, engagement-focused adaptation of behavioral parent training for families facing parent mental health barriers.
期刊介绍：
Journal of Attention Disorders (JAD) focuses on basic and applied science concerning attention and related functions in children, adolescents, and adults. JAD publishes articles on diagnosis, comorbidity, neuropsychological functioning, psychopharmacology, and psychosocial issues. The journal also addresses practice, policy, and theory, as well as review articles, commentaries, in-depth analyses, empirical research articles, and case presentations or program evaluations.
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