Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Teen Self-Report on Health Behaviors and Social-Emotional Wellbeing: United States, July 2021-December 2022.
Samuel M Katz, Angelika H Claussen, Lindsey I Black and 4 others
PMID 40232808WHAT IT FOUND
Teens with ADHD self-reported more bullying, difficulty making friends, sleep problems, and high screen time than peers without ADHD.
They also reported less lack of peer support. These are associations in a national survey, not proof that ADHD causes these behaviors.
Key findings
01Teens with ADHD reported higher rates of bullying victimization and difficulty making friends compared to those without ADHD.
02Teens with ADHD were significantly more likely to report sleep problems, including difficulty getting up and lacking a regular waketime.
03Teens with ADHD reported less lack of peer support than teens without ADHD, contrary to some previous parent-reported studies.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that ADHD causes these behaviors or vice versa. ADHD diagnosis was based on parent report and not validated against medical records, which could lead to misclassification. Health behaviors and social outcomes were self-reported by teens, which may differ from parent or teacher reports. The survey did not ask about ADHD medication or behavioral therapy, so it is unknown how treatment influenced these outcomes. The sample underrepresented teens with ADHD after weighting, which may bias the national estimates. The study did not examine co-occurring disorders like anxiety or depression diagnoses, which often accompany ADHD and influence social and health behaviors.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study used public data from the National Center for Health Statistics.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that teens with ADHD lack peer support. This study found that teens with ADHD self-reported less lack of peer support than teens without ADHD, which contradicts some parent-reported data. Assess social networks from the teen's perspective.