Association Between Probable Adult ADHD and Profession in India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may persist into adulthood. Adult ADHD remains understudied in India, particularly among professional groups.

The objectives of the study are to determine the proportion of participants showing probable adult ADHD screening positivity through an online questionnaire and to compare screening positivity across various professional groups.

This cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire consisting of demographic information, associated factors, and the validated Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) screening tool. The questionnaire was distributed via WhatsApp (Meta Platforms, Inc., Menlo Park, CA, USA) to various professional groups across India. A cut-off score of 14 was used to identify probable ADHD.

Among 355 respondents, 115 (32.4%) showed probable adult ADHD screening positivity. Differences across professional groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Screening positivity was significantly associated with marital status and work environment in unadjusted chi-squared analysis. Participants who screened positive reported higher screen time across professional categories than those who screened negative.

Probable adult ADHD screening positivity was observed across multiple professional groups and was not confined to a single occupation. The observed associations with relationship status and work environment should be interpreted as exploratory and non-causal. These findings support the need for workplace awareness, structured screening pathways, and further studies with clinical confirmation and multivariable analysis.