Parenting an Adolescent Who is Using a Mental Health Service: A Qualitative Study on Perceptions and Management of Stigma

Abstract

Supporting an adolescent who has an emotional or behavioural disorder is challenging for parents. This article reports the findings of a qualitative study of parents’ perceptions of stigma associated with parenting an adolescent with a diagnosis of ADHD or depression. 40 parents (28 mothers and 12 fathers) took part in semi-structured interviews. The interview guide focussed on their parenting experience in social contexts such as interactions with friends, family and the wider community, and perceptions of their own parenting abilities and experiences. Thematic analysis was used to code and interpret the data. Parents felt that other people held ill-informed or dismissive views of what their child’s disorder entailed; they experienced parental self-blame; they engaged in efforts to normalize their child’s experiences and they reported being selective in deciding whether to talk to others about their child’s diagnosis. The implications of the findings for addressing stigma are discussed.