The impact of ADHD in an individualʼs daily life on planning, coping and time perspective

Abstract

Objectives. People with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) show a number of executive function deficits which are related, among other things, to difficulties in perceiv-ing time. Deficiencies in time perception have been demonstrated in children and adults with ADHD. Perception of time is usually measured by quantitative methods at very short time in-tervals, which are not related to application in everyday life. Methods. The presented mix-methods study therefore focuses on the perception of time in short and long intervals in the context of the ac-tual real life of the subjects. The study presents the results of an analysis of interviews with 20 adults with varying levels of ADHD symptoms, which included 1) a life line technique and a fol-low-up narrative interview about significant life events and perceptions of their time sequence, and 2) a short stress management interview and subjective efficiency of coping strategies. The respondents were chosen based on their results in the ASRS questionnaire which measures the severity of ADHD symptomatology. The results of the qualitative part were compared with the findings from the quantitative analysis of the development of the scenario of a situation contain-ing a motivational conflict (N = 1518). Results. The results showed that people with ADHD, compared to the control group, more often choose less adaptive solutions in the field of time-related life situations. Nevertheless, in their own lives, most of them were able to state specific procedures that work for them while coping with the burden of ADHD. However, there was a difference in the extent of ADHD symptomatology compensation. External struc-turing of stress activities (through graphic visu-alization, e.g.) was most often cited as the best practice.