PSYCHOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF ADHD SELF-DIAGNOSIS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF YOUNG ADULTS WITH DIAGNOSED AND UNDIAGNOSED DISORDER

Abstract

The aim of the study is to identify and compare the structure of relationships between psychological factors of ADHD self-diagnosis in young adults with and without an officially confirmed diagnosis. The relevance of the study is determined by the increasing cases of ADHD self-diagnosis among youth, particularly under the influence of information from social media, and insufficient understanding of the psychological mechanisms of this process. The study involved 120 individuals aged 17 to 25 years, divided into two groups: with diagnosed ADHD (n=28) and without an official diagnosis but with self-reported ADHD symptoms (n=92). Standardized methods were used: the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale ASRS v1.1, the GAD-7 questionnaire for anxiety assessment, and O. Andronikova’s victimization identity research methodology. Additionally, questions for self-assessment of ADHD symptoms presence and their impact on life were applied. Statistical analysis included calculation of descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis with significance levels p≤0,05 and p≤0,01. The results showed fundamental differences in the structure of psychological relationships between groups. In the group without diagnosis, significant correlations were found between subjective belief in having ADHD and anxiety level (r=0,26, p≤0,05), while in the diagnosed group such connections were absent. Particularly revealing is the difference in correlation strength between objective ADHD indicators and anxiety: in the group without diagnosis this connection is significantly stronger (r=0,67 vs r=0,41 in the diagnosed group). In both groups, victimization identity correlates with assessment of symptoms’ impact on life, however the mechanisms of this connection differ psychologically. The obtained results indicate that anxiety may act as a trigger for ADHD self-diagnosis only in the absence of official diagnosis confirmation. Young adults with confirmed ADHD diagnosis are characterized by “diagnostic stability,” when the disorder is integrated into the self-concept without additional emotional burden. The study confirms the necessity of differentiated approaches to psychological work with different youth groups and development of specific interventions for preventing false self-diagnosis among the young population.