PSYC 301 Final - Dysfunction Associated with Psychiatric Disorders 5

ADHD and Stigma + Gender

What is stigma?

Mark/sign of social unacceptability 

• Negative attitudes, beliefs, and/or behaviours towards an individual based on characteristics/group/life situation 

• Involves negative judgement, stereotypes, discrimination, labellingh, and othering/scapegoating

Different Types of Stigma

1. Public Stigma (Societal)

2. Systemic Stigma (Institutional) 

3. Self-Stigma (Internalized) 

   • Affects self esteem, self efficacy, deterrent to seek help

How does stigma intersect with ADHD?

• Highly visible/perceived as controllable/misunderstood = more likely to be stigmatized 

• Barrier to care + social support 

• Contributes to increased social difficulties + social rejection 

  • Social isolation 

  • Less self compassion 

  • Lower self esteem 

• Those with ADHD are more likely to experience negative events + stressors, contributes to poorer mental health 

What are the gender differences in diagnosis for ADHD?

• Childhood → 3:1 boys to girls (boys 3x more likely to be diagnosed) 

• Adulthood → 1:1 men to women 

• Girls less likely to be diagnosed in childhood, older when diagnosed + struggle more socially 

  • Women with ADHD experience greater severity of impairment + presence of comorbid disorders

Factors Contributing to Under-/Misdiagnosis of Women

• Lack of knowledge of gender differences in ADHD 

• Gender bias in research (underrepresented in research, ex. diagnostic criteria) 

• Higher rates of comorbidities in women with ADHD

• Individuals with externalizing symptoms (vs. internalizing) more likely to be recognized/referred

• Higher threshold for symptom severity in women for referral + diagnosis 

What are the two main types of self responding?

1. Uncompassionate Self-Responding 

   • Self-judgement and criticism 

   • Over-identification with negative thoughts, emotions, and experiences

   • Feelings of isolation in suffering 

2. Compassionate Self-Responding 

   • Self kindness and understanding 

   • Mindful awareness of the experience without over-identifying with negative thoughts & emotions

   • Acknowledging the common humanity in suffering

What are the 3 main elements of self-compassion?

Practice of being kind to oneself in times of suffering

1. How we pay attention to our suffering 

   • Mindfulness vs over-identification

2. How we cognitively understand our suffering 

   • Common humanity vs isolation

3. How we emotionally respond to our suffering 

   • Self-kindness vs self-judgement

What are higher levels of ADHD associated with?

• High levels of uncompassionate self-responding in people with ADHD → more emotion regulation difficulties + mental health challenges

• Internalizing others’ negative feedback & criticism → more self-critical

What are positive outcomes associated with self-compassion for individuals with ADHD?

• Improved resilience, self-efficacy + healthy coping

• Improved psychosocial well being + emotional regulation

• Reduced comorbid symptoms, negative thinking + stress