"Mom just forgot me at a gas station": A qualitative study of parental ADHD in the home.

Alvey, Hailey Meagan (2023) "Mom just forgot me at a gas station": A qualitative study of parental ADHD in the home. Masters thesis, Northern Arizona University.

Text Alvey_2023_mom_just_forgot_me_gas_station_qualitative_study_parental_a.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 30 May 2025. Download (974kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Existing literature suggests that the symptomatology for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have serious implications for parenting behavior. While presentation of symptoms for adults with ADHD may negatively impact an individual’s ability to successfully and confidently fulfill parenting responsibilities (e.g., timeliness, organization, routine, responsiveness, and involvement), very little is known about how the disorder may affect children in the home. The few qualitative studies identifying this issue are limited in breadth to the lived experiences of children who grow up with a parent reported to experience the diagnosis; specifically, the existing qualitative studies include either unclear interpretation or a sample consisting of children under the age of 18. The aim of the current study was to address this gap in the literature by assessing the retrospective experiences of emerging adults as they grew up with a parent with ADHD. This research study was conducted using 16 semi-structured interviews with emerging adults who were between the ages of 18 and 25. Thematic analysis methodology was utilized to qualitatively examine themes across individuals. Analysis revealed that individuals often feel an inherent obligation to be responsible for their parent’s ADHD symptoms, and frequently identify feelings of guilt and resignation with these responsibilities. Additionally, individuals identified a lasting, existential impact on the way they view and interact with the world and the people around them as a result of their experiences with their ADHD parents. Finally, a large aspect of growing up with ADHD parents was navigating assumptions about parenting responsibilities which were perceived as shattered as a direct result of ADHD symptomatology. Oftentimes, perceived broken assumptions were followed by feelings of missing out, parental blame, or shame. This study contributes to the literature by adding to the field’s understanding of adult ADHD and its impact on the home environment from the perspective of the child, as well as adding to the limited number of qualitative studies in this area.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	ADHD; emerging adults; parenting; qualitative research; thematic analysis
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of Social and Behavioral Science > Psychological Sciences
Date Deposited:	01 Aug 2023 21:36
Last Modified:	20 Oct 2023 16:22
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/6079

Actions (login required)

IR Staff Record View

Downloads