A phenomenological study on the life experiences of adolescents with a parent diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

This study explores the lived experiences of Turkish adolescents aged 14–18 who have a parent diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic neurological disease. Using a descriptive phenomenological design and semi-structured interviews with ten adolescents whose mothers have MS, the research identified four main themes: emotional reactions to the diagnosis, impacts on family relationships, effects on adolescents' daily lives including increased caregiving responsibilities and academic challenges, and adolescents' meaning-making of the illness often involving role reversal and metaphorical descriptions. Findings highlight that parental MS significantly alters family dynamics and places developmental, emotional, social, and academic burdens on adolescents, underscoring the need for family-centered psychosocial support and school-based interventions tailored to adolescents' unique developmental needs.