Browsing by Author "Pestana, Katia"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Adolescents' experiences of living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) within a South African context : a qualitative study
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-10) Pestana, Katia; Coetzee, Bronwyne; Lochner, Christine; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder characterised by recurrent, repetitive and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and/ or repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions). The obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms cause substantial impairment and distress; in children, they interfere with developmental adaptation and daily functioning. The 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) may have triggered and reinforced obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviours, and such aggravation might, in turn, correlate with poorer functioning and worsening of quality of life (QOL) of individuals with OCD. Available literature regarding the impact of OCD on everyday functioning and QOL has been mainly quantitative in nature. Moreover, research studies mostly include adults with OCD. There are currently no published qualitative studies that attempt to explore the influence of COVID19 on the everyday lives of children and adolescents with OCD. Therefore, the present study aimed to qualitatively explore the subjective experience of living with OCD from the perspectives of adolescents (12-18 years old) and their parents within a South African context. The second aim was to qualitatively explore how COVID-19 has impacted South African adolescents with OCD from their own perspectives as well as that of their parents. Eight adolescents (6 females and 2 males) and eight parents (8 females) took part in online semi-structured interviews. All the participants provided written informed consent and assent, and were given assurance that their identities would be kept strictly confidential and anonymous. The interviews were conducted online via Zoom or MS Teams and were audio-recorded with permission. Thereafter, the interviews were transcribed verbatim and entered into a qualitative software programme and thematically analysed. In total, 8 themes and 17 sub-themes were identified and analysed through the lens of the Ecological Systems Theory (EST). The thematic analysis uncovered participants’ subjective experiences of living with OCD. This is the first study to qualitatively explore how OCD impacts on the everyday life of youth, also within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown phases, from the perspectives of adolescents and their parent/s. The findings were that OCD is debilitating, with a substantial impact on all domains, including home, social functioning, and schoolwork. Adolescents with OCD (and their parents) reported extreme guilt and shame because of OC symptoms and an inability “to be themselves.” Results on the impact of COVID-19 were mixed. Some participants reported exacerbated symptoms (e.g., worse contamination fears and increased compulsive washing) in this context, whereas others denied any impact. Overall, these findings offer deeper insight into the subjective experiences of living with OCD, also during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the perspectives of adolescents and their parents. The findings highlight the importance of involving parents in treatment strategies and emphasizes the need for well-defined guidelines to assist parents in effectively implementing at-home reinforcement of therapeutic teachings. Moreover, the data accentuate the importance of psychoeducational programs at schools and in the community, to increase awareness and coping with OCD, specifically in children and adolescents.