Patterns of Coping: How Children with ADHD and Their Parents Perceive and Cope with the Disorder

Patterns of Coping: How Children with ADHD and Their Parents Perceive and Cope with the Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental diagnosis characterized by symptoms of excessive motor activity, impulsivity, and inattention. Previous research indicates that ADHD has negative implications on the psychosocial functioning of children with ADHD and their parents. In order to fully understand the implications of ADHD we need to understand how children and parents perceive and cope with its symptoms. The aims of this thesis were to (1) identify perceptions of the symptoms among children with the disorder and their parents; (2) identify strategies that children and parents apply in order to cope with the symptoms; and (3) explore patterns between perceptions and coping strategies. The methods used in this thesis are qualitative and include a systematic review of qualitative studies and the analysis of semi-structured interviews with children and parents.

The results show a variation among children with ADHD as regards their perceptions and coping strategies. With reference to perceptions, five themes were identified among the children: (1) the causes of their symptoms (“there is something wrong with me”, “there is something wrong with my environment”, “this is my personality, a part of who I am”); (2) the implications of the symptoms for their life; (3) symptom timelines; (4) the ability to control the symptoms; and (5) the uniqueness of the symptoms (perceiving the symptoms as either a spectrum or a dichotomy). The study also identified three types of coping strategies that the children applied to manage their symptoms: (1) controlling oneself; (2) making changes in the environment; and (3) following the symptoms and satisfying immediate needs.

This study found three observable patterns between how children perceive their ADHD and how these children cope with its symptoms. Children who perceive their symptoms as a result of a deficiency within themselves engaged with attempts at self-control, while those children who perceive their symptoms as a result of a problematic environment attempt to change their environment. Also, children who perceive their ADHD as a part of their personality express a tendency to “follow the symptoms.” Additionally, patterns were observed between the perceived uniqueness of ADHD and applied coping strategies. That is, children who perceived ADHD as a spectrum engaged in controlling themselves, whereas those who perceived ADHD as a unique and dichotomous characteristic engaged in making changes in their environment.

As regards the parents of children with ADHD, this study found that parents perceive their child’s symptoms as a source of difficulties for the parent and as a result of a biological dysfunction. Parents cope with their child’s symptoms by: (1) adjusting their behaviors towards the child; (2) searching for knowledge and becoming experts; (3) regulating negative emotions in relation to the child and others; and (4) negotiating between ADHD and everyday demands, personal wishes and values. In particular, patterns were observed between the perceptions parents have of their child’s behaviors being the result of biological dysfunctions and the coping strategies that these parents employ as a result.

This thesis highlights the importance of giving attention to the perceptions that children and parents have of ADHD symptoms and how they cope with them in order to inform and contribute to future research and clinical work.