A new study by Understood.org has revealed that women with ADHD lack access to essential support compared to men. The report lays bare the hidden reality of women living with the disorder, leaning on research from Human Dot Plus, F’inn, posts in Reddit communities, and a raft of academic studies.
Understood.org reveals key insights on women living with ADHD
According to the latest findings from Understood.org, support for women with ADHD remains underwhelming despite years of research. The jarring statistics come in the wake of a surge in ADHD diagnoses for women since 2020, with mothers bearing the brunt of the shortfall in support.
Right off the bat, the analysts at Understood.com noted that a staggering 72% of women with ADHD have other mental health conditions. Furthermore, nearly 45% of women are first diagnosed with another condition, like anxiety or depression, before their ADHD is identified.
“Women with ADHD have been overlooked for far too long,” said Justine Bassman, VP of Insights and External Research at Understood.org. “They deserve support that reflects their lived experiences, and research is an essential step toward building it.”
Given the critical gaps in ADHD research on women, analysts at Understood.org opined that “the mind-body connection” is largely ignored. Per the data, eating disorders are 3.6 times more common in girls with ADHD than in their peers, often starting in adolescence.
This misunderstanding, according to the US-base nonprofit, leads to poor mental health in women with ADHD. Per the findings, 89% of women with ADHD wrongly misattribute their neurobiological symptoms to character flaws, a “major hallmark of the female ADHD experience.”
Odds of suicide attempts for ADHD-diagnosed women are significantly higher than the 8.5% for men.
Motherhood complicates the situation for women
For women living with ADHD, motherhood presents a motley of new challenges, with BIPOC moms hit the hardest. The Understood.org report disclosed that motherhood shifts the focus from self-reflection to urgency in supporting her child.
Per the research, BIPOC moms experience the highest levels of shame and stigma, triggering an intensified feeling of falling short of expectations. Typically, black women are 73% more likely to receive a conduct diagnosis than white women, highlighting how racial bias shapes diagnostic outcomes.
In an interview with Charity Journal, Dr Andrew Khan, Associate Director of Expertise and Behavioral Health Innovation, shared a blueprint for diagnostic screening to help fix the disparity. Khan urged healthcare professionals to take into account a variety of data sources, including validated rating scales and appropriate developmental history.
“Competent clinicians should be aware that not all evaluation tools are ‘culture fair,’ and in cases where bias is noted, they should seek to use tools that provide a more balanced and fair representation of their clients,” said Khan.
Meanwhile, the report noted that women with ADHD recorded keen improvements in their conditions when undergoing mental health therapy and participating in team sports. Furthermore, creative and expressive activities like cooking and journaling also improved mental health outcomes for mothers with ADHD.