THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF EARLY DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AS A FORMATIVE FACTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOUR IN...

Children with early developmental disorders are at greater risk for developing addictive behaviors because of their emotional, cognitive, and social disabilities. This study analyzes Ukrainian people with early social isolation, stress, dysfunctional families, digital addiction, and lack of support to determine how these factors combine to increase the chances of addiction.

This research is based on phenomenological qualitative methodology. The participants included 20 adult Ukrainians aged 19-45 diagnosed with ADHD, ASD, or learning disabilities. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. The analysis was conducted using NVivo 14 and RStudio software.

The results identified that participants aged between 19-45 years and suffering from developmental disorders, with a nearly equal gender ratio (11 males, 9 females) and different occupational, educational, and family backgrounds, resulted in five prominent themes during the qualitative analysis. The themes include Early Social Isolation, Coping with Stress, the Influence of the Family Environment, the Role of Digital Addiction, and the Lack of Support Systems. Each theme showed different pathways that led to addiction, such as peer rejection, work/school pressure, dysfunctional families, digital overdependence, and lack of support and treatment. These themes were strengthened through focus group discussions with parents, caretakers, mental health professionals, and teachers, which called for integrated solutions.

The study emphasizes socio-environmental stressors that build on early developmental changes as a primary reason for addiction.