Caught in a Balancing Act: Parents’ Dilemmas Regarding Their ADHD Child’s Treatment With Stimulant Medication

Abstract

The authors explored parents’ perceptions of and everyday experiences with the stimulant medication used to treat their child’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in this phenomenological study. They elicited experiences through semistructured interviews with 10 Canadian parents of children with ADHD. In the interviews, parents revealed the meaning the stimulant medication had taken on in the context of their everyday lives. Through the interview analysis, dilemma emerged as the dominant theme. Parents were caught in a dynamic balancing act, as they considered the medication’s desirable and undesirable effects in various settings. In addition, parents shared their expectations regarding the medication’s role in their child’s future. The study’s findings reinforce the necessity of further qualitative research in this area, given the growing number of families around the globe whose children have been diagnosed with ADHD.