“I Felt Like a Burden”: An Exploration Into the Experience of Romantic Relationships for People With ADHD
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Romantic relationships can have additional complexities for individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The present study employed Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) to explore what challenges adults with ADHD have experienced in their romantic relationships. Adults with ADHD (N = 355) answered an open-ended survey question asking if and how their ADHD had negatively impacted their romantic relationships. RTA resulted in four overarching themes and seven subthemes. Too Much and Never Enough: The Emotional Rollercoaster of Rejection Sensitivity and The Struggle for Stability: ADHD's Battle Between Passion and Distraction, encapsulated the relational challenges individuals with ADHD face associated with their ADHD traits. Between Partner and Caregiver: The Emotional and Practical Strain in ADHD Relationships highlighted the sometimes-unbalanced dynamic in relationships. From Chaos to Clarity: The Role of Self-Understanding in Love explored the detriments of lacking self-insight and the transformative impact of self-awareness. Findings underscore the complicated interplay between ADHD traits, self-perception, and romantic relationships.
DOI: 10.1111/jmft.70097
Authors: Maidy O'Brien, Christina Kini‐Seery, Caitlin Kelly, Ken Kilbride, Margo Wrigley, Finiki Nearchou, Jessica Bramham
Institutions: University College Dublin, Health Service Executive
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,010
OpenAlex ID: W4416808704