6533b7dbfe1ef96bd1270221

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Self-pathologizing, self-condemning, self-liberating: Youths' accounts of their ADHD-related behavior

Juho HonkasiltaSimo VehmasTanja Vehkakoski

subject

MaleLegal normHealth (social science)Social adjustmentAdolescentDistancingDiscourse analysisattention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)Identity (social science)behavioral disciplines and activitiesHistory and Philosophy of Sciencemoral responsibilitymental disordersmedicineHumansAttention deficit hyperactivity disorderta5160501 psychology and cognitive sciencesMoral responsibilityChilddiscourse analysisQualitative ResearchFinlandidentityBehavioraccountyouth05 social sciencesinterview050301 educationmedicine.diseasehumanitiesdiskurssianalyysiAttention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivitynuoruusFemalePsychologySocial Adjustment0503 educationSocial psychology050104 developmental & child psychologyQualitative research

description

This study analyzes the discursive construction of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and self in relation to a socioculturally shared understanding of moral norms. Thirteen Finnish youth aged 11 to 16 diagnosed with ADHD were interviewed during this discourse analysis study. The youth accounted for their culturally undesirable behavior, performance and traits through three different types of accounts: (1) externalizing personal responsibility due to a compelling medical condition, (2) internalizing personal responsibility through moral self-condemnation, and (3) distancing oneself from the socially imposed stereotypes and stigmas related to ADHD. This study challenges dominant understanding of young people with a diagnosis of ADHD and contributes to our understanding of how ADHD is constructed in their lives. peerReviewed

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2016-01-01Social Science & Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.12.030