“Alla vet vad ADHD är, men ingen vet vad det innebär” : En intervjustudie om ADHD-diagnostiserade personers upplevelse av det ökade innehållet på sociala medier som påstår sig gestalta diagnosen.

Sammanfattning: In an increasingly mediatized society, there are only a few aspects of our lives that remain absent online. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of which role the mediatization of the discourse about ADHD has in the lifeworlds of individuals with the diagnosis. The aim was to comprehend how individuals diagnosed with ADHD experience content that claims to represent the diagnosis. The study adopted a phenomenological theoretical framework with a focus on the process of mediatization. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using an interview guide and stimulus material. The results indicate that all participants perceive ADHD-related content on social media as generally portraying a misleading and unbalanced image of the diagnosis. They feel the depicted image is solely characterized by gender-stereotypical symptoms and excluding individuals who deviate from that description. Furthermore, the results show how the misleading portrayal directly affects participants negatively, making them feel diminished, ridiculed, and, in some cases, causing doubt about their own diagnosis. Nevertheless, participants share that there are positive aspects of the increased online presence of the diagnosis. Humorous depictions and recognition create a sense of community, reducing the feeling of being alone with their issues. In conclusion, it is evident that mediatization has played, and continues to play, a significant role in how individuals with ADHD perceive both their own experiences with the diagnosis and the diagnosis itself.