"I wish it wasn't all on me": women's experiences living with a partner with ADHD.

FAMILIES & psychology; SUPPORT groups; HEALTH services accessibility; HEALTH self-care; SELF-evaluation; ATTENTION-deficit hyperactivity disorder; QUALITATIVE research; HEALTH status indicators; SPOUSES; INTERVIEWING; PATIENT-family relations; COUPLES therapy; PSYCHOLOGY of women; PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; THEMATIC analysis; BURDEN of care; RESEARCH methodology; MATHEMATICAL models; ATTITUDES toward mental illness; PHENOMENOLOGY; THEORY; PSYCHOLOGY of caregivers; COUNSELING; SOCIAL support; DATA analysis software; INTERPERSONAL relations; CAREGIVER attitudes; ADULTS

Grounded in the socio-ecological model of health, this study aims to understand the broader impact of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on the family system. With a notable gap in knowledge concerning the impact of adult ADHD on spouses' well-being, this research explores the lived experiences of women in relationships with partners diagnosed with ADHD. Using a descriptive qualitative phenomenological approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with thirteen women without ADHD, to gain insights into their experiences. Three main themes were identified- ADHD in Everyday Life, Burden Experience, and Women's Coping Strategies for managing ADHD within relationships. The findings suggest that partners' ADHD symptoms involve a burden on women. In response, women developed coping strategies such as learning about ADHD, setting limits, and cultivating partnership by creating bridges to compensate for ADHD-related barriers. This study highlights the substantial burden experienced by women in a relationship with partners diagnosed with ADHD, suggesting they should be recognized as caregivers and a potentially vulnerable group at risk. However, the homogeneous nature of our sample, focusing on white, heterosexual women, underlines the need for further research to better understand the impact of adult ADHD on diverse partners' functioning and health, as well as pathways to support them. Women partners of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often fulfill a caregiving role that can create a substantial burden. Healthcare providers working with adults diagnosed with ADHD are encouraged to recognize the broader social context of their patients and validate the burden experienced by both partners living with the implications of this health condition. Healthcare providers can offer supportive measures for both partners, such as education and counseling to facilitate a deeper understanding of the unique challenges posed by ADHD, and to provide guidance on effective coping strategies. Interventions are needed to support women in relationships with adults with ADHD. Future interventions might include peer support groups, individual counseling, or couples therapy that specifically addresses the unique challenges of living with ADHD in a relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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