Journal of Education and Practice www.iiste.org
ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online)
Vol.7, No.6, 2016
1
The Experience of Mothers and Teachers of Attention Deficit /
Hyperactivity Disorder Children, and Their Management
Practices for the Behaviors of the Child
A Descriptive Phenomenological Study
Lubna Harazni1 MSN Dr. Aidah Alkaissi2*, PhD
1.An-Najah National University, Faculty of Higher Studies- Nablus-Palestine
2.An-Najah National University- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences- Nursing & Midwifery Department-
Nablus-Palestine, PO. Box 7
This paper was presented in the Middle Eastern Nurses & Partners Uniting in Human Caring Conference, Aqaba,
Jordan; 02/2013
This paper was presented in the international psychiatric conference, Ramallah-Palestine, 2013
Abstract
Introduction: ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a childhood disorder affecting children
worldwide and has a major burden on the child, family and other caregivers. Aim: The aim of this study is to
investigate and describe the experience of the adults that interact on a daily basis with school-aged children with
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which are mothers and teachers. This study aims also to understand
management practices that are used by mothers and teachers to deal with the most prominent signs of ADHD,
which are hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention in order to formulate a care plan. Design: The study used a
qualitative descriptive phenomenological method to explore the experiences of primary caregivers of ADHD
children to capture as much as possible the way in which the phenomenon is experienced. Data collection: Face
to face, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants – the mothers and teachers of
ADHD children. The interview guide allowed mothers and teachers to express their experiences with the ADHD
child. Sample: Purposive sampling was used; four children diagnosed with ADHD were chosen. The sample
was 4 mothers and 12 teachers (3 teachers for each child). Setting: Interviews were conducted in schools and
homes of children with ADHD. Data Analysis: The data was analyzed by using Giorgi’s phenomenological
psychology method (1985). Results: Three major themes emerged from the mothers’ interviews and ten subthemes;
(1) the burden of caring (academic track burden, activities of daily living burden, psychological and
emotional burden); (2) inadequate support (lack of support from spouses and relatives, lack of support from
schools, lack of support from community); (3)disturbances of the child's behavior (hyper activity, inattention,
impulsivity, hostility). Five major themes also emerged from the teachers interviews and thirteen sub-themes; (1)
lack of information (the nature of the disease, student health and follow-up, the ideal method for dealing with
child); (2) child´s behaviors disruptive (inability to follow class rules, inattention and impulsivity, using verbal
and physical abuse); (3) the lack of resources (lack of time, lack of materials and experts); (4) lack of support
(lack of Ministry of Education support and school team, lack of parental support); (5) the burden of having the
child in the class (burden of managing the safety of the child, burden to calm the child and the other students,
emotional burden). Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrate the importance of understanding the
experience of the mothers and teachers of ADHD children. It reflected the difficulties and issues of dealing and
caring with ADHD children. There were clear defects in the knowledge, understanding, services provided for the
children, and available support for the care givers. Improving services in terms of family and school care should
be a major concern. The recommendations made on the basis of the results of this study can be used as a guide to
improve the delivery of care services for people who have children with ADHD.
Keywords: ADHD, experience, descriptive phenomenology.

Title

Journal of Education and Practice

Publisher

www.iiste.org

Publisher Country

Bulgaria

Publication Type

Online only

Volume

7

Year

2016

Pages

1-21