The Impact of ADHD in Adulthood on Self-Esteem: A Differentiated Examination of Individual and Psychosocial Factors

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adulthood is associated with various functional impairments, including reduced self-esteem. Individuals with ADHD often experience rejection, academic and occupational failure, and social exclusion, all of which may negatively affect their self-concept. The literature discusses which factors contribute to some individuals coping better with ADHD or the effects of the disorder than others, particularly in terms of self-esteem. A possible explanation that goes beyond the mere severity of ADHD symptoms lies in the level of personality functioning. The present study investigates the relationship between ADHD and global self-esteem, as well as the moderating role of personality functioning. Hypothesis 1 proposes that adults with ADHD report significantly lower global self-esteem compared to individuals without ADHD (replication of existing findings). Hypothesis 2 assumes that personality functioning moderates the relationship between ADHD and self-esteem. This study is designed as an online cross-sectional survey with n = 144 adults (aged 18–60 years), recruited via social media, ADHD forums, and psychotherapeutic practices. Three comparison groups (formal diagnosis, subjective suspicion, no ADHD) will be kept balanced using quota controls. Measures include ADHD symptoms (ASRS-v1.1), global self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), personality functioning level (the 12-item version of the OPD-Structure Questionnaire), as well as relevant psychosocial variables, including social belonging, bullying experiences and personal attitudes towards ADHD. Differences in global self-esteem between ADHD binary groups (ADHD-near vs. no ADHD) will be examined using independent samples t-tests, and the moderating effect of personality functioning on the association between ADHD symptom severity and global self-esteem will be tested using multiple linear regression analyses.