This qualitative study interviewed 18 adults living in Canadian cities. Nine were primary caregivers, mostly parents, of adolescents aged 10 to 14 with ADHD. Nine were professionals who worked with young teens with ADHD. All were Caucasian and the families were middle class. Families of teens with major added conditions affecting thinking and behavior, such as autism, were not included. Only three adolescents signed up, so their views were left out.
The researchers named the main process "Families Journeying Together." It had three parts: experiencing constant challenge, building family consciousness, and moving forward.
People saw resilience in different ways. Four caregivers were wary of the word. Professionals tended to link it only to overcoming hardship.
Views on school split sharply. All caregivers said their teen was misunderstood and lacked the right supports at school. Yet four of the five education professionals felt these students were often well supported. Most caregivers also described stigma and a poor fit between their teen's needs and the ADHD services on offer. Four of the nine caregivers changed their careers, such as cutting work hours or leaving paid work for years.
The authors note the sample lacked diversity, which may limit how far the findings apply. They suggest that professionals working with these families take a broad, context-based view of resilience and help expand affordable respite, recreation and sports programs.
Source: McMenemy C, Nicholas D. Resilience in Families of Early Adolescents with ADHD: Implications for Practice. Child Care in Practice (2022). doi:10.1080/13575279.2022.2060187