Williams, Tamara, Bevan-Jones, Rhys  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8976-9825, Livingston, Lucy A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8597-6525, Agha, Sharifah Shameem ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9541-6786, Barclay, Isabella, Ford, Tamsin, John, Ann, Sayal, Kapil, Thapar, Anita ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3689-737X and Martin, Joanna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8911-3479
2026.
“The picture between home and school is miles apart”: Reflections of parents/carers and professionals in the UK on the manifestation of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in girls.
Neurodiversity
4
10.1177/27546330261487214
|
Preview |
PDF
- Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (682kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is more commonly missed in females than males, partly because the diagnostic criteria may not fully capture the female presentation. This study aimed to qualitatively identify difficulties experienced by females with ADHD, especially those beyond the current diagnostic criteria, from the perspective of parents/carers and professionals. Method: Seven focus groups were conducted in the UK in 2023: three with parents/carers, two with healthcare professionals, and two with educational professionals, involving a total of 35 individuals. Participants were asked to describe their experiences of supporting girls with ADHD. Data were analysed using the framework method. Results: Four themes were identified: (1) attention regulation difficulties and their social impact, (2) hyperactivity and impulsivity manifest more verbally and subtly, (3) prominent difficulties with emotional impulsivity and regulation and (4) difficulties are more obvious at home than at school. Conclusion: Female ADHD might be missed as difficulties are less externally disruptive and more emotional than the current ADHD diagnostic criteria. Additionally, females may engage in masking behaviours. Improving current ADHD diagnostic assessments and criteria to reflect this presentation would benefit diagnostic inequalities and access to care for females with ADHD.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Published Online |
| Status: | In Press |
| Schools: | Schools > Psychology Schools > Medicine Research Institutes & Centres > Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health (WCYPMH) |
| Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
| ISSN: | 2754-6330 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 1 September 2026 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 12 August 2026 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Sep 2026 10:54 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189275 |
Actions (repository staff only)
 |
Edit Item |
Dimensions
Dimensions