Lived Experiences of Adolescents with Stuttering: Exploring Self-Esteem, Social Anxiety, and Coping Mechanisms
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-ii.277Keywords:
Stuttering, Adolescents, Self-Esteem, Social Anxiety, Coping Strategies, Lived Experiences, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), Qualitative ResearchAbstract
Stuttering is a communication disorder that extends beyond speech fluency, often influencing adolescents' psychological well-being, interpersonal relationships, and overall quality of life. The present study aimed to explore the lived experiences of adolescents with stuttering, with particular emphasis on self-esteem, social anxiety, and coping strategies. A qualitative research design grounded in Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of participants' subjective experiences. Seven adolescents diagnosed with developmental stuttering were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth interviews, allowing participants to describe their personal experiences in their own words. The interview transcripts were analyzed following the systematic stages of IPA, including repeated reading, initial noting, development of emergent themes, and identification of patterns across cases. Six themes emerged: Daily Hassle of Stuttering; Wounded Self: Impact on Self-Esteem and Identity; The Social Environment as an Intimidating Environment: Social Anxiety; Environmental Influences and Stigma; Emotional and Psychological Experiences; and Coping Strategies. Although participants experienced considerable psychological and social challenges, they also demonstrated resilience by adopting a range of adaptive coping strategies. The findings highlight the importance of integrating psychological counseling with speech-language therapy to address the psychosocial needs of adolescents who stutter and contribute to the limited qualitative literature in this area.
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