People with self-diagnosed ADHD are more likely to chase online validation and have lower self-esteem

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-10-02 04:00

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People who have self-diagnosed with ADHD look for validation online more often and report a more negative self-image and internalised stigma than those who have a clinical ADHD diagnosis, according to an international analysis of the r/ADHD subreddit. Using language-processing models to analyse 452,026 posts on the Reddit forum, the researchers looked at differences in the way self-diagnosed and clinically diagnosed people presented and sought validation on the platform. The researchers say the validation people receive online by engaging in this ADHD discussion forum has the capacity to reinforce both positive self-perception and the more negative internalised stigma some people experience.