People with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, more commonly known as ADHD, often experience challenges that neurotypical people do not, such as distractibility or low tolerance for frustration. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that ADHD also has advantages. And, according to a new study, being aware of these positive aspects can lead to some mental health benefits.
The groundbreaking research, which was published in Psychological Medicine, comes from scientists at the University of Bath, King’s College London and Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands. Researchers compared 200 adults with ADHD and 200 without ADHD in the first large-scale effort to measure psychological strengths associated with the disorder.
People with In fact, ADHDers were more likely to identify strongly with 10 strengths, including the ability to hyperfocus, a sense of humor, creativity, intuition and having broad interests.
In general, people with ADHD had a lower quality of life than people without ADHD. However, the researchers also found that in both groups, people who understood their strengths and knew how to use them also had better mental health and well-being. From that perspective, people with ADHD (at least those who have a good understanding of their personal strengths) could be poised for better mental health.
While people with ADHD are often well aware of their struggles, such as difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, emotional regulation challenges, or even problems maintaining relationships, new research highlights the strengths of ADHD, as well as the power of fully understanding those strengths.
Luca Hargitai, lead researcher on the study and a postgraduate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, says the research should help people with ADHD better understand their brains. “It can be very empowering to recognize that, while ADHD is associated with various difficulties, it has several positive aspects.”
Likewise, Dr Punit Shah, lead author and associate professor of psychology at the University of Bath, says the findings should help researchers find real ways to improve the lives of people with ADHD. “The next step now is to investigate whether interventions that promote the recognition and use of personal strengths can offer tangible improvements in the mental well-being of adults with ADHD.”