Understanding and supporting disclosure decisions in parents of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Parents of children with a concealable stigmatized identity (CSI) often need to make disclosure decisions for their child. Disclosure can bring benefits but can also risk harm. The overarching goal was to enhance understanding of disclosure decision-making in parents of children with a CSI, specifically focusing on ADHD, given its prevalence and the stigma surrounding its diagnosis and treatment. This thesis synthesized existing research into the disclosure process of parents of children with a CSI, qualitatively explored parents’ disclosure decision-making regarding their child’s ADHD diagnosis and medication use, and developed and tested an ADHD-specific disclosure-guidance resource to support these parents.