Self-reported sensory processing and social participation across adult ADHD symptom groups

Sensory processing differences are increasingly recognized in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but their relationship with social participation remains understudied. This study examined sensory processing and social participation across three adult ADHD symptom groups and evaluated the association between sensory processing and social participation.

This cross-sectional online survey included 209 adults aged 21-65 years, categorized into self-reported ADHD diagnosis (n = 91), elevated ADHD symptoms without a reported diagnosis (n = 66), and low ADHD symptoms (n = 52) groups. Participants completed the Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile, the Social Participation subscale of the Sensory Processing Measure-2 Adult, and Part A of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale. Adjusted linear models compared groups while controlling for anxiety/depression status. Hierarchical multiple regression examined the additional variance in social participation explained by the four sensory processing quadrants.

Significant group differences were observed across all four sensory processing quadrants and social participation score. Adults with low ADHD symptoms generally reported fewer sensory processing differences and social participation difficulties than the other two groups. The self-reported ADHD diagnosis and elevated ADHD symptom groups differed significantly only in the low registration quadrant. The sensory processing quadrants increased the model for an additional 26% of the variance in social participation beyond ADHD group and anxiety/depression status (ΔR ² = .260, p <.001), increasing the total variance to 49.7%. Higher low registration (β = .46, p <.001) and sensation avoiding (β = .18, p = .037) were associated with greater social participation difficulties, whereas higher sensation seeking was associated with fewer difficulties (β = -.22, p <.001).

The findings suggest that the self-reported ADHD diagnosis group and the elevated ADHD symptoms group show similar patterns of sensory processing and social participation, and that sensory processing may be relevant to understanding social participation in this population.