- Title
- “Being ADHD”: a Qualitative Study
- Creator
- Redshaw, Rosalind; McCormack, Lynne
- Relation
- Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Vol. 6, Issue 1, p. 20-28
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41252-021-00227-5
- Publisher
- Springer
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2022
- Description
- Objective: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is well recognised as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development; however, little is known about the subjective experience of “being ADHD”. This phenomenological idiographic study explored how nine individuals with ADHD make sense of their life experiences, ability to function, and ideas about self in the context of ADHD. Method: Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from nine participants aged 29 to 54. Audio recordings of interviews were then transcribed and analysed according to the protocols of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results: Three themes emerged (1) otherness; (2) pixies, monkeys, and living in the moment; and (3) Challenging “broken”. Themes encompass the experience of being different to others, mechanics of daily functioning, and advantages of being ADHD. Conclusion: A tendency to live in the moment was consistent across the nine participants in this study and aligns with quantitative research showing differences in the processing of temporal information in ADHD. The effects of this tendency on day-to-day functioning are linked to typical symptoms of ADHD, as well as perceived advantages. Participants attributed an uncommon degree of energy, optimism, adventurousness and curiosity, and novel problem-solving ability to their ADHD, adding to existing literature that suggests there are advantages to this unique mental architecture. Identifying positive aspects to ADHD offers clinicians and educators a pathway for mitigating the negative effects on self that flow from the challenges of ADHD.
- Subject
- ADHD; qualitative study; living in the moment; advantages of ADHD; timing in ADHD; neurodiversity
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1464476
- Identifier
- uon:47010
- Identifier
- ISSN:2366-7532
- Language
- eng
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