A Qualitative Study of Families and Children Possessing Diagnoses of ADHD

This phenomenological research study replicates R. Segal's (1998) study of 17 Canadian families. The authors interview 17 American families participating in the national support group Children and adults with attention Deficit Disorder, focusing on the challenges they face in rearing children diagnosed with ADHD. Three particular themes emerge. First, the parents appear to be attuned to their children's needs and report being proactive in making adaptations and interventions when needed to accomplish family objectives. Second, the results are generally congruent with those reported by Segal. In both cases, mornings and afternoons are vulnerable times for the families. Segal found mornings most difficult, however, whereas families in this study relate homework periods in the afternoons to be most challenging. Third, parental strategies are salient for successfully rearing children with aDHD. The families emphasize the constructs of routine and structure as being paramount to navigating daily life successfully.