Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD traits predict higher curiosity in adults: evidence from a cross-sectional study

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is typically framed in terms of difficulties with sustained attention, behavioral regulation, and impulse control, yet growing work suggests that some associated traits may also relate to potentially adaptive tendencies. Curiosity has been highlighted in qualitative research as one such trait that can function as both a strength and a challenge for adults with ADHD, but quantitative evidence examining its relationship to ADHD traits remains limited. This study examined whether ADHD traits are associated with individual differences in trait curiosity in adults.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 521 adults living in the United Kingdom, of whom 50.7% reported a formal ADHD diagnosis. ADHD traits were assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale v1.1 (ASRS-v1.1) and curiosity was measured with the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory-II (CEI-II). Associations between ADHD traits and curiosity were first examined using Pearson correlations. Multiple linear regression analyses were then used to test whether inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity uniquely predicted curiosity after controlling for age, gender, and education. Finally, curiosity was compared between diagnostic groups using Welch's t-tests, and distribution-based analyses examined co-occurrence of high hyperactivity-impulsivity and high curiosity.

ADHD trait scores showed small-to-moderate positive correlations with overall curiosity and its subdimensions. Participants with ADHD reported moderately higher curiosity than those without a diagnosis. In regression analyses controlling for demographic variables, hyperactivity-impulsivity uniquely predicted curiosity (β = 0.26, p < .001), whereas inattention did not. This pattern was consistent across diagnostic groups.

Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD traits are associated with higher self-reported curiosity in adults. These findings are consistent with accounts that link impulsivity-related traits to greater engagement with novelty and uncertainty, and suggest that some traits commonly framed as challenges may also relate to tendencies that individuals experience as strengths. Further research is needed to determine whether and when this association translates to functional advantages in educational and occupational settings.