living in the shadow of fear and threat: a descriptive phenomenological exploration of life experiences of male adolescents with fathers diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder

Background: having a parent with paranoid personality disorder (ppd) can interfere with the formation of constructive parent-child interactions and the child's future development.objectives: this study aimed to explore the lived experiences of male adolescents with fathers diagnosed with ppd. methods: using a descriptive phenomenological approach, this qualitative study was conducted in tehran’s schools in 2024. participants were selected through purposive sampling. data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 adolescents, which continued until data saturation was achieved. data analysis was performed using colaizzi's seven-step content analysis method. results: data analysis revealed 21 primary categories, 6 subthemes, and two main themes: (1) mentally distressing experiences and (2) emotionally distressing experiences. conclusions: research has shown that sons of fathers with ppd experience mentally and emotionally distressing situations, which can lead to a decrease in the quality of the parent-child relationship, feelings of emotional deprivation, fear, and anger in the sons. additionally, the findings can contribute to a better understanding of the supportive and psychological needs of adolescents with a parent diagnosed with ppd and provide insights into psychological and social strategies for supporting these adolescents.