Distracted, hyperactive, and thriving: factors supporting everyday functioning in adults with ADHD

Using a strengths-based framework, the present study sought to identify protective personal and social characteristics associated with functional ability among adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Sixty-four adults with ADHD (19-80 years old) completed self-report measures of everyday functioning, psychiatric symptoms, personality, social support, and coping strategies. Conscientious and extraverted personality traits, adaptive coping strategies, positive childhood experiences and available social support were investigated as potential protective factors supporting everyday functioning through partial correlation analyses adjusting for ADHD symptom severity and comorbid symptoms of depression and anxiety. Significant correlates were tested as modifiers of ADHD-related functional impairments in moderated regression models.

Multiple significant correlations were found between functional impairment and each of the personality and social characteristics of interest. Positive childhood experiences and emotion-focused coping strategies were linked to better community functioning, and positive childhood experiences were also linked to better sexual functioning. Forms of tangible, belonging and self-esteem support were associated with better functioning in social and sexual relationships, as well as with overall functional ability. None of these factors moderated the association between ADHD symptom severity and overall functioning, indicating that the functional advantages of social support were observed regardless of the severity levels of ADHD symptoms or functional impairment.

Higher ratings of social support were linked to better functioning across many life domains independent of ADHD symptom severity, suggesting that all people with ADHD - even those with relatively low symptoms - may thrive from the development of enhanced social connections. These conclusions need to be strengthened by supportive longitudinal evidence, as it is likely that many of these associations are bi-directional.