Mental Health and Coping in Women With ADHD During the Pandemic

Recent research suggests that women make up a substantial proportion of adults with ADHD, but they are less likely to be identified, diagnosed, and adequately treated. OBJECTIVE: A diverse group of 307 females (17-30 years of age) was recruited for an online mixed methods study on mental health and coping in women with ADHD. METHODS: In the first phase of the study, data from women reporting low and high levels of ADHD symptoms, including some previously diagnosed with ADHD, were collected. Quantitative results suggest that women with substantial ADHD symptoms experience more difficulty with emotional regulation, more distress, greater loneliness, and they are less resilient and less self-compassionate. To follow up, all women who reported a previous diagnosis of ADHD in the first phase were invited to participate in interviews exploring how they cope with high stress. A total of 15 women were interviewed. RESULTS: Qualitative results suggest that although participants described engaging with and regulating internal experiences as more effective, they were more likely to use avoidance coping, often thought to be less effective. Further, when participants reported less emotional insight/awareness, they were also less likely to use internally focussed approach strategies. CONCLUSION: Thus, the reduced self-awareness that is characteristic of ADHD may represent an additional challenge to effective coping. These results underline the importance of ongoing research and clinical attention for women with ADHD.