A phenomenological study on the life experiences of parents of children with ADHD

Abstract

ADHD negatively affects the functionality of families and parents; however, no studies have examined the experiences of Turkish families with children diagnosed with ADHD. In this context, the present study aimed to explore the life experiences of Turkish parents with children diagnosed with ADHD. For this purpose, a descriptive phenomenological research design was used. Data were collected using a personal information and semi-structured interviews, while analysis was conducted using Giorgi’s phenomenological method. As a result of the content analysis, five main themes were identified, namely experiences regarding the diagnosis process, emotional reactions related to the diagnosis, experiences with social relations, influences of ADHD diagnosis on the family, and academic difficulties. In line with the results, it is suggested that mental health professionals and other related specialists should include the findings of parents’ life experiences in the treatment planning of children with ADHD and intervention programs should be developed for parents.