ArticleBMC psychology2025
I've really struggled but it does not seem to work: adolescents' experiences of living with ADHD - a thematic analysis.
Article in BMC psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Trying to Survive in an Emotional Storm: A Qualitative Framework Analysis of Anonymous Youth Helpline Conversations on Mental Health and Everyday Life.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2026Article
- Exploring adolescents' and parents' experiences of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment in ADHD: a qualitative study.BMC psychiatry · 2026Article
- Neural markers of methylphenidate response in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the impact on executive function.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) the transition from childhood to adolescence encompass changes in symptom manifestation and related challenges. Given the potential negative impact of ADHD on adolescents, and the increased risk for dropping out from treatment, there is a need to understand more about how adolescents experience their condition. The aim of this study was to explore adolescents' perceptions of how it is to live with ADHD.
methodsTwenty adolescents (15-17 years old, 12 girls) diagnosed with ADHD who had completed a skills training group were interviewed. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.
resultsFour themes emerged: 'I find it hard to regulate what I take in and what comes out', 'I've really struggled but it does not seem to work', 'ADHD impacts my vitality and my relationships', and 'I can be successful and things are getting better'.
conclusionAdolescents with ADHD experience problems with self-regulation with regards to cognitive, emotional and behavioural processes. They describe being either on or off. This difficulty to self-regulate is related to primary and secondary consequences such as stress, anxiety, loss of control, and by extension exhaustion, depressed mood, challenges in social interactions, self-accusations and a tendency of giving up. The experience of 'being on' has positive connotations of vigour and creativity. The challenges related to ADHD can to some extent be overcome with time for recovery, coping strategies, and medical treatment. Symptoms of ADHD can also decrease over time.
trial registrationThis qualitative study was not pre-registered.
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