title: The self-esteem of adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a systematic review of the literature.
abstract: Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often grow up with negative messages surrounding their abilities and may experience adverse outcomes throughout their lives. Despite this, by adulthood, those with ADHD often find that they are left without adequate support from services. This review explores the relationship between self-esteem and ADHD in adulthood with a view to outlining needs and potential opportunities in terms of service provision. Twelve databases were searched for relevant literature published between 1980 and 2013 using terms relating to self-esteem, ADHD and adulthood. The resulting 13 articles comprised both cross-sectional and intervention studies. Despite a limited number of studies and methodological concerns, there is evidence to suggest that ADHD is associated with lower self-esteem in adulthood and that self-esteem difficulties can be remedied, to at least some extent, by psychotherapeutic work. It is recommended that future research focuses on the evaluation of therapy that specifically targets difficulties in self-esteem in this population.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Clinical Psychology Doctorate Programme, Coventry and Warwick Universities, Coventry University, James Starley Building, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK, jucook@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hume
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qureshi
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012649:Self Concept