A comparison of the mother-child interactions of younger and older hyperactive and normal children.

The mother-child interactions of both younger (means age = 4.11) and older (means age = 8.4) hyperactive children were compared and contrasted with those observed in comparable age groups of normals. Interactions were observed in an unstructured-play and structured-task situation. Mothers of hyperactives were generally more directive and negative during play and less responsive to child-initiated interactions. Hyperactive children asked more questions and were generally more negative and noncompliant during play, particularly younger hyperactives. Hyperactives did not differ from normals in their reactions to mother-initiated behavior during play but engaged in less independent activity when their mothers were noninteractive. During the structured-task situation mothers of hyperactives were more directive and negative and less interactive and approving, even when their child was interacting appropriately. In general, between-group differences in mother-child interactions were greatest when comparing dyads with a younger hyperactive child with the other 3 groups, especially during the structured-task situation.