My socials told me I have ADHD: A cross-sectional study of information about ADHD symptomatology on social media

Brooke Hulsizer; Fabrizia Passaro

doi:10.29329/jsomer.29

Authors

Brooke Hulsizer Independent Researcher, United Kingdom https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9616-7591
Fabrizia Passaro Independent Researcher, United Kingdom https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4224-4204

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29329/jsomer.29

Keywords:

ADHD, Mental Health Misinformation, Social Media, Misleading Information, Online Mental Health Posts

Abstract

Social media posts about attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have become increasingly popular and have accrued billions of views, which has raised questions about the spread of ADHD misinformation. This coincides with an increasing number of long ADHD waiting lists globally, as posts shared by influencers with varying credentials appear to be prompting people worldwide to reflect on whether they might have ADHD. It has been found that approximately half of TikTok posts about ADHD contain misinformation. However, more exploration is needed to assess the amount of misinformation on social media regarding ADHD presentation and symptomatology. This study builds upon previous research by comparing posts about ADHD symptomatology on Instagram and TikTok, examining the relationship between misinformation and the qualifications of the account, and investigating potential financial benefits for accounts that post about ADHD. This cross-sectional study analysed 200 posts about ADHD symptomatology and assessed for misleading information by comparing the posts to the DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria for ADHD. Of the 200 posts that met inclusion criteria, 17.5% (n = 35) were categorised as accurate and 82.5% (n = 165) were categorised as misleading. This aligns with research that has found misinformation about ADHD online, but shows a higher occurrence of misinformation about ADHD symptomatology specifically. Clinicians and the online public should be aware of the possibility of exposure to misleading information about ADHD symptoms on social media, which could lead to misunderstanding and inaccurate beliefs about diagnosis.

Author Biographies

Brooke Hulsizer, Independent Researcher, United Kingdom

Brooke Hulsizer is a registered social worker and psychotherapist working in the Highlands of Scotland. She received her BsC. in Addictions Counselling from Indiana Wesleyan University and her MSW from Arizona State University. She has experience working as a mental health therapist for both the NHS and in private practice.

Fabrizia Passaro, Independent Researcher, United Kingdom

Fabrizia Passaro is an assistant psychologist for the NHS in London, England. She is also an expert witness in private practice and a tutor in statistics and research method.

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