Psychological functioning of women identified in adulthood with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

There are many adults being identified with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) who were not diagnosed as children. The current study investigated psychological functioning in women identified in adulthood as having ADHD. Participants were 102 women, aged 26 to 59, fulfilling (N = 51) and not fulfilling (N = 51) the criteria for ADHD. Home interviews were conducted, consisting of both structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Results revealed that the women with ADHD reported more depressive symptoms, were more anxious and more stressed, had more external loci of control, had lower self-esteem, and engaged more in emotion-oriented and less in task-oriented coping strategies. This study emphasized the need to focus more research on females with ADHD and highlighted possible effects of a late diagnosis.