Needs for occupational assistance among young adults with ADHD to deal with executive impairments and promote occupational participation – a qualitative study

Abstract

Purpose

To examine perceived aspects of importance among young adults with ADHD to participate and engage in occupational activities, and to explain how support from occupational specialists can assist them to deal with executive impairments.

Materials and Methods

Individual interviews with eight young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The interview guide was based on assumptions derived from the literature regarding executive functioning and issues related to participation in occupational activities, alongside the needs for social support. Interview transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

Four categories emerged from the analysed interviews: (1) Being involved in an occupational environment fulfils a need for social contact, (2) Occupational activities must be clear and within interest (3) Self-confidence and daily routines are prerequisites for occupational participation (4) Having a lifeline providing continuous support is important.

Conclusions

Routines, interest and structure in everyday life are important to engage in occupational activities. There is a need for continuous support from a trusted person to establish and maintain healthy daily routines. Occupational specialists can be a vital resource, as they possess specific knowledge on the possibilities for occupation, and additionally, they can fulfil the young adults’ needs for continuous support. There is a need for studies questioning how some young adults with ADHD fulfil their work role despite executive impairments. Focusing on executive functioning can be a valuable supplement to the focus on specific diagnoses in research and practice.

Keywords:

• Attention deficit and disruptive behaviour disorders
• employment
• executive functioning
• vocational rehabilitation
• qualitative research

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the young adults for sharing their perspective, and the involved occupational specialists, mentors and social work assistants for their support and assistance during the interviews.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University.

Notes on contributors

Cecilie N. Lyhne

MB and CNL conceptualized and framed the article. PP measured the participants’ functioning. MB conducted interviews. CNL coded and categorized all interviews, and CNL and MB performed inter-coder reliability procedures. The analytical process was conducted in a constant dialogue between CNL and MB, and finally discussed with PP and CVN. CNL drafted the manuscript, which was revised and discussed with MB. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.