It's Not You, "It's Me": Sexual Experiences and Sexual Satisfaction in an ADHD Sample

Individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) display increased difficulty with navigating intimate relationships, including experiencing lower levels of sexual satisfaction compared to individuals without an ADHD neurotype. Nonetheless, there is a lack of research exploring the lived experiences of sex and sexual satisfaction in ADHD populations. To address this gap, this study investigated these experiences through a qualitative exploration of ADHD individuals' perceptions of their sexual experiences and sexual satisfaction. A sample of 98 ADHD adults (72 women, 17 men, 8 non-binary, 1 gender not reported) from a range of countries (57.1% Australia) were recruited online using snowball sampling. Participants provided written responses to five open-ended questions about their sexual experiences and sexual satisfaction. Responses were analyzed using latent thematic analysis. Findings indicated that ADHD individuals experience challenges with their sexual satisfaction and relationships, with a consistent theme of their neurotype-specific traits being a contributing factor to these challenges (i.e., need for novelty, difficulty focusing, reassurance seeking behaviors). Notably, participants with ADHD experience challenges with sexual satisfaction, particularly when neurotype accommodations are not supported or considered. These findings may guide the formation of adequate and informed assessment and therapeutic practice for supporting ADHD individuals who experience sexual dissatisfaction, and aid in improving their overall sexual well-being and intimate relationships.