“Best Days of Our Lives?” Exploring the School Experiences of Women with ADHD Based on Diagnosis During or After School

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neuro-behavioural condition associated with limitations and deficits. Previous literature has largely focused on the lived experiences of males with ADHD. Despite a recent increase in studies on females with ADHD, there is a lack of empirical research on school experiences. This study aimed to address this gap in the literature by examining the perceived effect of ADHD on the school experiences of women. 13 women aged between 18–35 with a medical diagnosis of ADHD answered a series of questions in qualitative semi-structured interviews. Three were diagnosed during school and ten were diagnosed after school. The data was analysed using structured inductive thematic analysis. Four themes emerged, with sub-themes as follows: (1) Personal impact; the impact ADHD had on self-identity in school pre- and post-diagnosis. (2) Attitudes and opinions of others; how parents, teachers and societal attitudes on gender affected diagnoses and school experiences. (3) Friendships and relationships; how ADHD affected personality and socialising in school, and (4) ADHD and academia; the academic struggles participants faced whether diagnosed in school or not. The results suggest that ADHD contributed to negative school experiences for all participants. While the perception was that gender and attitudes towards ADHD in females often delayed diagnoses and that early diagnosis would have improved self-identity and school experience, results suggest even with early diagnosis, it is important that teachers are educated about the symptoms and deficits affecting females with ADHD and that schools provide resources to support female students with ADHD to ensure the best school experience.