"It feels like we are aliens": A narrative inquiry of life stories told by women with ADHD.
Date
2023-01-09
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Abstract
There is a dearth of research on women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and women’s voices and experiences of ADHD need to be better heard and understood. This qualitative inquiry aimed to better understand the lived and holistic experiences of women with ADHD in Alberta Canada, and how their experiences impacted identity and sense of self. A holistic perspective was chosen as it considers not only the mind, but the body and spirituality of the individual which are important to understanding self and experience. This study interviewed six adult women from Alberta, Canada using a narrative inquiry methodology. Themes presented from the narratives included 1) ‘feeling like an alien’ and experiences of alienation from self and social worlds; 2) differences in male and female experiences; 3) narratives of self-discovery, acceptance, and redefining success; 4) narratives on the importance of relationships; 5) narratives on identity and ADHD; 6) narratives on a holistic sense of self. This study presented an important perspective and insight into the worlds of women living with ADHD, and additionally
exposed several gaps in the literature that would be important for further social work research
and informing practice.
Description
Keywords
Narrative, Women, ADHD, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, Holistic, Spirituality, Embodiment, Life Story Interview
Citation
Merrick, J. (2023). "It feels like we are aliens": a narrative inquiry of life stories told by women with ADHD (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.