The investigation of social skills of adults with ADHD symptoms

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the social skills of adults exhibiting symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). To achieve this goal, the current study addresses the following research questions: (1) is there a correlation between ADHD symptoms and social skills of adults? (2) Is there a significant difference in ADHD symptoms and social skills of adults by gender, ADHD diagnosis and comorbidity? The study sample included 366 adults displaying ADHD symptoms. Gender breakdown was 86.3% for females and 13.7% for males. Among study participants, 46.4% of them reported that they had ADHD diagnosis, and 27.9% of them reported that they had comorbid conditions. Employing a snowball sampling method, participants voluntarily completed a comprehensive survey, including a demographic information form, the Adult Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale, and the Social Skills Inventory Short Form. Statistical analysis utilized non-parametric tests due to non-normal distributions of the study sample. Results indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between ADHD symptoms and social skills. By contrast, gender differences were not significant, requiring further investigation with different populations or contexts. Furthermore, individuals diagnosed with ADHD demonstrated higher levels of both social skills and ADHD symptoms compared to non-diagnosed adults with ADHD symptoms. Conversely, while comorbidity did not significantly impact social skills of adults, it was found to be correlated with greater levels of ADHD symptoms. Notable limitations of the study include the nature of online surveys and reliance on self-reported assessments. Future research should be conducted with a larger sample by using more comprehensive assessment methods to deepen our understanding. Implications for research are discussed.