Rejection sensitivity and social outcomes of young adult men with ADHD

Abstract

Objective: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been consistently linked to social maladjustment. This study investigated whether elevated rejection sensitivity (RS) could contribute to the relational problems that adults with ADHD encounter.

Method: Undergraduate men in ADHD-Combined Type (ADHD-C; n = 31), ADHD-Primarily Inattentive Type (ADHD-IA; n = 22), and nondiagnosed control (NC; n = 25) groups completed questionnaires concerning RS, relational history, current relationships, and self-esteem.

Results: The hypothesis that those with ADHD would have elevated RS (versus NC peers) was not supported. However, low RS predicted divergent outcomes across groups. Furthermore, ADHD-IA men reported more negative relational outcomes than their ADHD-C peers, although both groups reported lower general self-esteem than controls.

Conclusion: Perhaps the positive illusory bias associated with childhood ADHD could buffer RS development. Findings provide evidence of ADHD-related impairment in adult relationships, further differentiate the principal ADHD subtypes, and extend the RS literature to this clinical population.