Gendered Differences in Self and Spousal Perceptions of ADHD Status and Treatment

• In Event: 308 - Section on Sociology of Sex and Gender Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 08. Gender, Work and Family: Session I

Abstract

Individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) characteristically face challenges maintaining social relationships and are more likely than the general population to experience poor marital quality, particularly if the individual with ADHD is female. Furthermore, while more boys are diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, the prevalence of ADHD in adulthood is the same for both males and females. Thus, females are more likely than males to be diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. Though this pattern has been recognized, the causes for this variation and its consequences on marital quality have not been explored. In response to these vacancies in the literature, this study applies medicalization theory to examine gendered differences in the rates of adult ADHD diagnosis and its consequences on both males and females in marital relationships. Using interviews collected through Mechanical Turk, as well as Blog postings from the website, Reddit, this study assesses responses from both married individuals diagnosed with ADHD as well as spouses of individuals diagnosed with ADHD. It confirms that females are more likely to receive their diagnosis in adulthood because of ascribed gender roles, receive more marital pressure to mitigate this medicalized condition, and consequentially experience more familial constraints than married men with the same diagnosis.

Author

• Nicole Lehpamer, Michigan State University