Contributing factors of oppositional defiant disorder: qualitative research

Various disorders and diseases threaten children. Diagnosis and early treatment of these diseases can guarantee the health of children, family and society. The problem is which factors contribute to develope Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) as one of the most prevalent childhood disorder.

The present study was a qualitative one to determine the contributing factors of ODD in children.

Research data was collected and analysed through qualitative approach and grounded theory. The study population included all the parents of ODD children (aging 6-12) of pre and primary schools of Isfahan in the year of 2019. In pursuit of this goal, 12 parents meeting the criteria to enter the research were chosen according to the targeted convenience sampling with two questionnaires of Child Symptom Inventory, parent-form (Gadow and Sprafkin,1994) and General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg, 1972). Data analysis was conducted using Strauss & Corbin (1986).

The obtained findings were as follows: 157 primary codes through open coding, 13 subcategories through axial coding on the basis of subject similarity, and finally 3 categories of individual, interpersonal and external factors through selective coding.

A set of individual, interpersonal and external factors plays a crucial role in the interpretation of the onset and persistence of ODD and in its treatment as well.