The role of self‐compassion in the mental health of adults with ADHD

OBJECTIVE: Evidence suggests that the poorer mental health associated with attention deficit hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is partially explained by adverse psychosocial correlates of the condition. As recent studies show that self‐compassion is negatively associated with ADHD, this study investigates if levels of self‐compassion may explain the mental health outcomes in people with ADHD compared to people without ADHD. METHOD: A total of 543 adults with ADHD (62.72% female, 18–67 years), and 313 adults without ADHD (66.45% female, 18–82 years) completed questionnaires online to measure levels of self‐compassion and mental health. A Structural Equation Model assessed the mediating effect of self‐compassion on the relationships between ADHD and well‐being (psychological, emotional, and social), and ADHD and ill‐being (depression, anxiety, and stress). RESULTS: Findings suggest that low self‐compassion contributes to poorer mental health in adults with ADHD compared to adults without ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, self‐compassion may be a potential target to improve mental health in this population. PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE: This study shows that self‐compassion is an important factor in the mental health of adults with ADHD and provides preliminary evidence for the use of self‐compassion interventions to improve mental health outcomes in adults with ADHD.