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Finding Clues to Role Conflict Experience and Support in the Life of Adult Women With ADHD in the Korean Society: A Qualitative Research Protocol

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can last until adulthood and the diagnosis is often delayed in women due to internalizing symptoms, masking, and compensation strategies. The stigma of the disease and its cultural characteristics can make it difficult to diagnose and accept mental disorders, particularly in the Korean society. Hence, this study aims to explore how the expectations and norms of social roles in the Korean society affect the recognition of symptoms, diagnosis processes, and daily life experiences of women with ADHD. In particular, role conflicts, coping strategies, self-care practices, and unmet needs that appear during the process of delayed diagnosis will be analyzed. To this end, semi-structured, in-depth interviews will be conducted according to Strauss and Corbin’s grounded theory, and core categories and mechanisms will be derived through open, axial, and selective coding. Identifying the unique experiences of ADHD in adult women in Korean society will provide basic data for early diagnosis and intervention strategies and further contribute to discussions on improving international diagnostic guidelines, including those in Asian countries.

Source: International Journal of Qualitative Methods

DOI: 10.1177/16094069251404346

Authors: Sohyeon Ryu, Sunjoong Kim, Do-Eun Lee, Eunji Jeong, So Hee Lee, Joohee Seo