Event Title
Women & ADHD Functional Impairments: Beyond the Obvious
Location
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
Description
PURPOSE: How do women describe the internal experience of living with functional impairments caused by ADHD? SUBJECTS: Fourteen women, who have been diagnosed with ADHD, were interviewed for this study. They were between the ages of 25 and 57. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Women who have ADHD were invited to complete an online version of the Weiss functional impairment rating scale. The researcher used a random selection process to select participants who were then invited to be interviewed for this study. The semi structured interviews lasted between 25 to 80 minutes. ANALYSES: The researcher utilized a phenomenological method of data analysis. This consisted of general coding, coding for themes, and writing summaries of each interview. RESULTS: The women describe the internal experience of living with functional impairments caused by ADHD as intense, stressful, frustrating, overwhelming, and draining. It was found that their negative internal experience lowers their self-esteem and causes them shame. Many women described panic responses to functional impairment as well as negative automatic thoughts. This internal experience causes them to feel isolated and frustrated. They feel misunderstood and are not receiving the help they need to overcome these challenges. CONCLUSIONS: This research study is important because it illuminates the internal experience of this population. It is hoped this study will encourage further research on how to effectively address this negative internal experience among individuals with ADHD.
Women & ADHD Functional Impairments: Beyond the Obvious
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
PURPOSE: How do women describe the internal experience of living with functional impairments caused by ADHD? SUBJECTS: Fourteen women, who have been diagnosed with ADHD, were interviewed for this study. They were between the ages of 25 and 57. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Women who have ADHD were invited to complete an online version of the Weiss functional impairment rating scale. The researcher used a random selection process to select participants who were then invited to be interviewed for this study. The semi structured interviews lasted between 25 to 80 minutes. ANALYSES: The researcher utilized a phenomenological method of data analysis. This consisted of general coding, coding for themes, and writing summaries of each interview. RESULTS: The women describe the internal experience of living with functional impairments caused by ADHD as intense, stressful, frustrating, overwhelming, and draining. It was found that their negative internal experience lowers their self-esteem and causes them shame. Many women described panic responses to functional impairment as well as negative automatic thoughts. This internal experience causes them to feel isolated and frustrated. They feel misunderstood and are not receiving the help they need to overcome these challenges. CONCLUSIONS: This research study is important because it illuminates the internal experience of this population. It is hoped this study will encourage further research on how to effectively address this negative internal experience among individuals with ADHD.