Scientists have studied people with hyperactivity disorder and self -diagnosed attention. What they found was revealing

New research shows today that there are major differences between people who diagnose themselves with a lack of attention/hyperactivity and those diagnosed by the doctor.

Scientists at Michigan State University examined hundreds of thousands of Reddit posts from ADHD forum users. Among other things, they found that self -diagnosed individuals were more likely to have a negative self -image than a clinically diagnosed with hyperactivity disorder and attention lack; They also tend to search for online health verification and their loved ones often.

The results indicate that it is important to realize how the identity of the people surrounding the hyperactivity disorder and lack of attention can be formed through the origin of their diagnosis, the researchers say.

Reddit analysis

The authors of the study initially analyzed more than 450,000 jobs on Subreddit R/ADHD, which was conducted over 14 years between 2009 and 2023.

They eventually studied a sub -range of 211,000 jobs, made by 15,432 unique users, clearly indicated a person’s diagnosis. In one of the examples of the self -diagnosis of the authors, the user stated that they were “not famous but suspected of things.” They analyzed the language of these publications, and they appear to be signs of searching for health, negative self -image, and internal stigma (example on the latter: “I have avoided treatment for years because of the disobedience of the source”).

In general, they found that people with hyperactivity disorder and self -diagnosed attention deficit were more likely to consider themselves and express the stigma of internal shame in these publications than those with hyperactivity disorder and a lack of attention in a clinical diagnosed. They were also more likely to express the desire to verify their condition, whether social (from their peers in real life) and the media (from the images of mass media or large online societies such as R/ADHD).

At the same time, social verification has been associated with people who have both negative and positive images. Although people with hyperactivity disorder and a lack of attention that were clinically diagnosed sought to verify health less, the link between validation of health, a person’s self -image and internal stigma was stronger in this group of people with hyperactivity disorder and self -diagnosed attention deficit.

What do you take away?

The results seem to confirm a concept in psychology known as the name Self -scaling theoryThe researchers say, which argues that we prefer others to see us in the same way that we see ourselves.

In this particular case, they argue, people with hyperactivity disorder and attention lacking self -diagnosed are more excited about the request to confirm their issues in online societies such as Reddit because they lack the official recognition of the doctor. But although verifying validation may improve a person’s expectations in some respects, it can also enhance a person’s negative perceptions and belief in the stereotypes associated with the existence of this condition, which then contributes to internal shame and stigma.

The researchers say that the allocations are clear, and perhaps clear, here is that online societies and social media can greatly constitute how individuals with hyperactivity disorder and lack of attention look at themselves. Ideally, these societies should share accurate information about the situation that can support a positive subjective image and reduce the stigma.

“Cooperation with mental health organizations is essential to ensure the spread of evidence -based content, which can enhance social support networks and enhance the positive mental health results of the hyperactivity and attention disorder.” Published Wednesday in Plos-One.

Unfortunately, this may be easier than doing it. Other studies have suggested that the wrong information about hyperactivity disorder and attention lack is online. Last March, a study found, for example, that nearly half of the videos related to the hyperactivity disorder and a lack of attention on Tiktok Incoming Disturbing claims about this situation; The researchers also noticed that the more people see this type of content, the more likely the number of Americans believed to be suffering from hyperactivity and attention disorder (is estimated at 6 % of adults and 11 % of children. Current diagnosis With ADHD).

It should also be noted that even experts in this field are still Discussion The prevalence of hyperactivity disorder and a lack of attention is among the general public.