THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF EARLY DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AS A FORMATIVE FACTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOUR IN THE MODERN CONDITIONS OF UKRAINIAN SOCIETY.

This study looked at 20 Ukrainian adults with developmental conditions like ADHD and autism to understand why they might be more likely to develop addictions. Researchers found five main reasons: being isolated from others early in life, struggling to cope with stress, problems at home, spending too much time on digital devices, and not having enough support. The study suggests that people with developmental differences face extra challenges that can lead to addiction if they don't get proper help.

This qualitative phenomenological study examined addiction vulnerability in 20 Ukrainian adults (aged 19-45) with early developmental disorders including ADHD, ASD, and learning disabilities. Using purposive sampling and NVivo analysis, researchers identified five key themes contributing to addictive behaviors: early social isolation, stress coping mechanisms, dysfunctional family environments, digital addiction, and inadequate support systems. Focus groups with parents, caregivers, mental health professionals, and teachers validated findings. The study suggests that socio-environmental stressors compound early developmental challenges, creating pathways to addiction through peer rejection, academic/work pressure, family dysfunction, digital overdependence, and lack of appropriate support or treatment services.

Findings suggest need for integrated prevention approaches addressing social isolation, stress management, family support, digital wellness, and comprehensive support systems for individuals with developmental disorders. Early intervention targeting identified themes may help prevent addiction development in vulnerable populations.

Small sample size (n=20) from single country limits generalizability. Qualitative design cannot establish causality. No comparison group included. Specific diagnostic criteria and addiction measures not detailed. Ukrainian context may not apply to other populations.

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.