Gardner, D. M., & Gerdes, A. C. (2015). A Review of Peer Relationships and Friendships in Youth With ADHD. Journal of attention disorders, 19(10), 844–855. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054713501552

Grinnell College

The vast majority of children with ADHD (50-70%) have some difficulty with creating and maintaining peer relationships and childhood friendships; roughly the same percent (56-76%) do not have any reciprocated friendships. The lack of these relationships has been shown to lead to internalized negativity, future substance abuse, and an increased risk of social dysfunction as they mature into adulthood

ADHD and Childhood Friendships

Ahlberg, R., Du Rietz, E., Ahnemark, E., Andersson, L. M., Werner-Kiechle, T., Lichtenstein, P., Larsson, H., & Garcia-Argibay, M. (2023). Real-life instability in ADHD from young to middle adulthood: a nationwide register-based study of social and occupational problems. BMC psychiatry, 23(1), 336. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04713-z

Real-life instability in ADHD from young to middle adulthood

Moyá, J., Stringaris, A. K., Asherson, P., Sandberg, S., & Taylor, E. (2014). The impact of persisting hyperactivity on social relationships: a community-based, controlled 20-year follow-up study. Journal of attention disorders, 18(1), 52–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054712436876

The impact of persisting hyperactivity on social relationships

Review of Peer Relationships and Friendships in Youth With ADHD

One possible reason for this is thought to be inappropriate social behaviors like impulsivity and the inability of the ADHD child to understand how to properly share and “play” with other children. Another reason may be their inability to pay attention in social situations, resulting in them misunderstanding the behaviors of their peers. Finally, children with ADHD have a harder time regulating their emotions, preventing other children from wanting to interact with them.

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