Liberating parents from guilt: a grounded theory study of parents’ internet communities for the recognition of ADHD

Figures & data

Table I. Examples of sections and type of information proposed to the users of the websites.

Section examples	Type of proposed information
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)	List of behaviors indicating a disorder, diagnosis approach, history of the disorder, associated disorders, examples of care, scientific and general, public information
ADHD at school	School adjustments, guidance for teachers, administrative recognition of the handicap, strategies for the management of concentration and relational difficulties in children
ADHD among adults	Consequences of ADHD on life situation, testimonials of adults diagnosed with ADHD, examples of care, information on books and scientific articles which aim at explaining ADHD to a lay audience
Current agenda	Links to social networks related to ADHD, television programs, newspaper articles, scientific events (e.g., conferences on the disorder) which promote the recognition of ADHD in children and adults
Practical information	Volunteers by region, resource institutions for the acknowledging of the handicap of an ADHD diagnosis

Table II. Stages of the analytical procedure following the approach of Strauss and Corbin (1998).

Stages of analysis	Description of the procedure
Open coding	Coding of the material line by line, aiming at clarifying the meaning of the message, its discursive effects, and its conditions of implementation
Axial coding	Structuring of generated concepts (i.e., open coding) around as few axes as possible through memo-writing for the identification of an underlying consistency in the individuals’ concerns and actions
Selective coding	Integrating identified axes of actions (i.e., axial coding) into an overarching category, which shapes and contributes to a broader scope of the study findings.

Table III. Study findings including the core category, supporting categories, and their properties (i.e., issues that members of the communities are expected to handle).

LIBERATING PARENTS FROM GUILT
Seeking medical attention for the child	Promoting behavioral expertise	Accounting for parenting struggles
Medical recognition of ADHD is ignored Legitimating medicalization of the disorder	Programming relationships to the child Ensuring program effectiveness	Putting one’s trust in Internet communities Fitting into a story

Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research. Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

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