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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms and personal strengths in adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2024

M. Miklósi ,
K. Vajsz ,
S. Oláh ,
V. Nagy  and
B. Szabó
M. Miklósi*
Affiliation:
1Department of Clinical Psychology, Semmelweis University 2Department of Developmental and Clinical Child Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University 3Centre of Mental Health, Heim Pál National Pediatric Institute, Budapest, Hungary
K. Vajsz
Affiliation:
1Department of Clinical Psychology, Semmelweis University 2Department of Developmental and Clinical Child Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University
S. Oláh
Affiliation:
1Department of Clinical Psychology, Semmelweis University
V. Nagy
Affiliation:
2Department of Developmental and Clinical Child Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University
B. Szabó
Affiliation:
1Department of Clinical Psychology, Semmelweis University 2Department of Developmental and Clinical Child Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent chronic neuropsychiatric disorders in children and adolescents; however, it continues into adulthood in 4-77% of the cases. Due to executive dysfunction, adults with ADHD may have deficits in personal strengths, as well as difficulties utilizing existing strengths in challenging situations, which may add to the functional impairments associated with ADHD in adults.

Objectives

Therefore, we aimed to explore the association between personal strengths and ADHD symptoms in a community sample of adults.

Methods

Five hundred and twenty-eight adults (mean age = 21.41 years, SD = 2.29, range: 18 ̶ 28, female: N = 488, 92.4%) filled out an online questionnaire after giving their informed consent. Personal strengths were assessed using Bernstein’s Strengths Scale (BSS) which measures sixteen positive attributes grouped into four higher-order factors: self-directedness (Identity, Self-reflection, Self-confidence, Self-assertion, Imagination/Creativity), self-regulation (Emotional balance, Resilience, Self-control, Self-care, Reality testing), connection (Empathy, Compassion, Humour, Responsibility), and transcendence (Gratitude and Wisdom). ADHD symptoms were measured by the screening version (Part A) of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS).

Results

Participants who were screened positive in ASRS (N = 247, 46.7%) scored lower in all but four BSS subscales than participants who were screened negative (N = 280, 53.3%). Effect sizes reached the medium level (Cohen’s d > .5) for Self-confidence, Self-care, Responsibility and Wisdom, and were small (Cohen’s d > .2) for Identity, Self-assertion, Imagination, Resilience, Reality-testing, Emotional balance, and Gratitude. However, no group differences were found in the Self-reflection, Empathy, Compassion, and Humour subscales of the BSS.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that ADHD symptoms in adults may be associated with deficits in personal strengths; that is, adults with ADHD may have difficulties, especially in trusting in their abilities, qualities, and judgements, in taking care of their own emotional and physical well-being, in taking responsibilities and in being open to learning from their experiences. Addressing personal strengths in psychosocial interventions for adult ADHD may improve patients’ functioning.

This research has been supported by the National Research, Development, and Innovation Office, OTKA-PD-134849 and ÚNKP-22-2-I-ELTE-854 grants.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 67 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 32nd European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2024 , pp. S384
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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