‘Living with tics’: self‐experience of adolescents with Tourette syndrome during peer interaction

Aims and objectives To describe the essence of the self‐experience of adolescents with Tourette syndrome in the context of peer interaction. Background Tourette syndrome has an adverse impact on adolescents’ physical, psychological and interpersonal interactions. Peers provide adolescents with social interactions that are crucial to the formation of self‐identity. Studies exploring the self‐experience of adolescents with Tourette syndrome in the context of peer relationships are lacking. Design A qualitative, phenomenological research design was used. Methods A total of 12 adolescents with Tourette syndrome from the Taiwan Tourette Family Association were selected by purposive sampling. Data were collected using open‐ended questions in one‐on‐one in‐depth interviews that lasted 60–90 minutes. Giorgi's phenomenological methods were applied to analyse the data obtained. Four criteria were employed to evaluate methodological rigour. Results The findings showed that the self‐experience of adolescents with Tourette syndrome during peer interaction reflected their lived experiences of peer identity, social identity and self‐identity. Themes included: (1) the inexplicable onset of tics during encounters with other people, (2) sources inspiring the courage for self‐acceptance and (3) strategies of self‐protection in response to changes in situation. Conclusions The self‐experience of peer interaction among adolescents with Tourette syndrome is a dynamic and interactive process characterised by the symbolic meanings conferred on the tics by the interacting adolescents. The adolescents with Tourette syndrome obtain self‐identity through peer responses and recognition, while the tolerance, respect and support of parents and teachers spark the adolescents’ courage for self‐acceptance. Relevance to clinical practice Healthcare providers who assist adolescents with Tourette syndrome must understand that tics occur in the context of peer interaction and how this affects the adolescents’ relationships with their peers in various life situations. Furthermore, healthcare providers should provide support, respect and offer coping strategies regarding peer interaction based on an understanding of the social dynamics of such peer interactions.