The Self of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Self-development is a central developmental issue in adolescence, there are few studies describing the experiences related to the self in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We conducted semi-structural interviews with 14 adolescents with ASD and three with ADHD to describe the self. As a result of inductive continuous comparison analysis, three concepts “Interest in self and self-realization”, “Intentionality and self-transformation”, “Unrealized/unnoticed self” were generated. It was suggested that the characteristic perceptions may tend to have difficulty realizing subjective selves.Otherwise, most adolescents realized various sense of self through interaction with others. Nurses should know adolescents’ inner world and share their emotions related to their self-recognition in order to provide care that meets important youth developmental needs.

Friendship matters—An interview study with adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

“…For example, when they were younger not being allowed to go on a break at the same time as the other children had created a feeling of exclusion, which led to frustration, and fighting and could affect their ability to make and keep friends. In their study Hanai et al [26] also noted that adolescents derived a sense of security by maintaining stable connections with their friends, classmates, teachers, and family members. Lam et al [27] found that friends were important for adolescents in general as friends influenced their behaviour, norms, and values.…”

The lived experience of mental disorders in adolescents: a bottom‐up review co‐designed, co‐conducted and co‐written by experts by experience and academics

“…However, profound interindividual differences exist 75 . Some of them do not accept their neurodiversity (“ I hate myself who cannot do well like others” 76 ); others eventually accept it and would not like to change “ because it's the reason why I am who I am ” 74 , and they “ like being different ” 74 or are even “ proud ” of it 75 .…”

“…Neurodiversity makes the lived world of adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders an extremely challenging place, particularly when confronted with the neurotypical world (“ This world is still a puzzle to me, like how people act and how rules are ” 73 ; “ I’m working my brain harder than anyone else” 76 ). They may feel their mind “ moving into chaos, like a messy office ” 77 .…”

“…Their puzzlement may be amplified by their sensory alterations, which can alter even positive perceptions of the surrounding world (“ [The sunshine] is too bright . When the weather is fine, it's painful for me; it's like I can’t stand it anymore” 76 ), and trigger vicious circles of feeling uncomfortable and detached from reality (“If a baby really upsets me via crying I will go outside and I will start noticing that my clothes are annoying me. So, I will start itching and scratching, and it gets really annoying.…”

“I don’t think they understand the reality of autism”: the lived experiences of late-diagnosed autistic adults in Japan

“…Finally, Hanai et al (2021) focused on 'the self' in Japanese autistic participants and those with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during adolescencea period during which one's sense of self changes profoundly, especially through interpersonal interactions with others. Some of their participants reported starting to think about themselves in relation to other, non-autistic students when they were placed in a special support class.…”