ADHD Individuals' Positivity About Their Condition Varies by Their Levels of Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Versus...

Positive attitudes toward one's clinical condition may contribute to resilience and well-being. Although qualitative studies suggest that individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may perceive positive aspects of their condition, no quantitative measure has been available to assess these attitudes. This study aimed to develop a self-report measure of positive attitudes toward ADHD and examine their associations with ADHD symptom dimensions.

Across three independent adult samples, participants completed measures assessing ADHD symptom frequency and attitudes toward their own ADHD. Positive attitudes were assessed using the newly developed Positive Attitudes Toward ADHD Scale (PATAS), which demonstrated high test-retest reliability (r = .89). The samples included participants from two language groups and an international sample spanning 24 countries.

Greater frequency of hyperactive/impulsive symptoms was consistently associated with more positive attitudes toward ADHD across all three samples. Inattention symptoms showed a tendency toward a negative association with positive attitudes, although this pattern was not consistent across samples. Participants also varied considerably in how positively they perceived their ADHD.

Individuals with ADHD differ substantially in their attitudes toward their condition, and these attitudes are differentially associated with ADHD symptom dimensions. Hyperactive/impulsive symptoms were consistently associated with more positive attitudes, whereas the association with inattention was less consistent. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying these associations and determine whether they can inform individually tailored interventions.