OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to provide a basis for future prevention and treatment of this disease.

METHODSFollowing a systematic search for case-control studies on the risk factors for ADHD in China between 2000 and 2014, relevant family risk factors were extracted accordingly. The quality of selected studies was evaluated according to the NOS scale. A Meta analysis on the selected studies was conducted using Stata 12.0 software.

RESULTSA total of 16 studies were selected, involving 2 167 children with ADHD and 2 148 normal controls. Results of Meta analysis showed that good parenting (OR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.26-0.40), nuclear family (OR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.41-0.76), high education level of father (OR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.41-0.76), high education level of mother (OR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.47-0.89), and extroversion of mother (OR=0.33, 95% CI: 0.18-0.61) are favorable factors for ADHD. Poor parental relationship (OR=1.90, 95% CI: 1.17-3.06) and family history of ADHD (OR=5.86, 95% CI: 3.67-9.35) are risk factors for ADHD.

CONCLUSIONSGood parenting, nuclear family, high education level of parents, and mother with extroversion are protective factors for ADHD, whereas poor parental relationship and family history of ADHD are associated with an increased risk for ADHD.