Experiences and worries in mothers with children suffering from ADHD: A Grounded Theory Study

Background: Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a lot of emotional and behavioral problems. Life experiences of mothers as primary caregivers are very important due to the direct relationship of them with their children. The aim of this study was to analyze the experiences and worries in mothers with children suffering from ADHD. Methods: This qualitative research was a Grounded Theory study based on purposed sampling. The study population was mothers with ADHD children in the elementary school of Aligoodarz City of Lorestan Province (Iran) in 2019. They were selected by target and voluntarily. The data reached a theoretical saturation through the interview with 16 mothers. Constant comparison analyses were used simultaneously with data collection. Results: The studied participants were 16 mothers with ADHD children. Data were analyzed using Corbin and Strauss (1990) method. Open, axial and selective coding methods were used for data analysis. Final research findings could be discussed in four categories including: "Mother‟s concerns about the child", "family disorders due to the child's behavior", "worries and negative feelings experienced by the mother”, and "parenting strategies for dealing with child". Conclusions: Despite of the complexity of the experiences and worries in mothers with ADHD children, this study indicated multiple aspects of impact of having ADHD children. Living with and caring of the ADHD children bring negative feeling and psychological distress for mothers. Awareness of these mothers' problems and concerns will help the mental health professionals to gain a deeper understanding of their life experiences.