Abstract
Abstract : After consulting multiple studies on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and resilience, the following identifications were made: the need to conduct research around the process involved in developing the promotive and protective aspects of becoming resilient; the need to conduct research that elicits the underlying processes and contributing resilient factors; as well as the need to conduct studies that focus on the academic successes and quality of life of individuals diagnosed with ADHD. An additional need was identified to describe the outcomes of resilience and the factors that contribute to it. Considering the above, it became clear that there was a need to understand the resilience-process of young adults diagnosed with ADHD. Given the identified aspects highlighted above, this research study focused on investigating and discussing the resilience-process of young adults with ADHD and exploring what drove their success. This study also aimed to provide a holistic view and understanding of the resilience-process, identifying the unique promotive and protective aspects involved and assisting professionals supporting individuals diagnosed with ADHD and facing adversities in life. This research was led by a qualitative approach as the research interest was placed on the process young adults with ADHD went through to become resilient, as well as on exploring the underlying motivation behind their successes, despite having to face adversities in life. In order to understand the subjective experiences of these young adults diagnosed with ADHD, an interpretive paradigm was followed. The research design that was followed was a descriptive phenomenology, as it is described as exploring, analysing and describing a certain phenomenon in a direct way, in order to portray the deepness of these lived experiences. Purposive sampling was utilised, as it is constructed to understand selected participants’ experiences. The sampling size was set on three to five participants, however three was efficient for this study. Data was collected by means of participants completing a basic questionnaire that was utilised to screen whether participants met the research criteria; they also completed the Adult Resilience Measure (ARM-28) which was utilised to guide the in-depth interview process, as well as to triangulate the information obtained from the interview; and thereafter the in-depth face-to-face interview took place. Another way that data was collected, was by means of observations made during the interviewing process. 4 The data analysis process of this research was guided by thematic analysis as this framework is focussed on gathering general themes from all the information obtained through the collection process and to form a discussion around them, in order to answer the research question. From the data analysis process, the following themes were identified: the process of resilience is quite challenging; internal motivation and will power constitute a great part of resilience; support from the micro-system contributes to the construction of resilience; and advice and recommendations to those diagnosed and to professionals working with ADHD. It is recommended that future research should focus on how to strengthen internal and external promotive and protective factors, as well as focus on how therapeutic interventions and support can be adapted in order to accommodate individuals with ADHD much better and to make a positive contribution to their resilience process.
M.Ed. (Educational Psychology)