Labor stressors influencing disability in Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity

Objective to investigate the role of social and laboral stress in the functionality and adaptability of adults screened as ADH(+) by the Adult ADHD Self report Scale in different professional settings. Design. We conducted an online survey with convenience sampling about economic and academic performances (dysfunctionality) and self-perception of health problems and work-related subjective suffering (maladaptation), following a screening for ADHD using Adult Self Report Scale (ASRS). The subjects were naïve about the aim of this assessment. Among analyses, we realized a random stratified subsampling to mitigate the bias by convenience sampling. Main Findings. There were 2173 participants, of which 28.06% were ADH(+). Even regarding only subjects with extreme ASRS scores (<1.0 and >2.5), ADH(+) and (-) groups did not shown difference in functionality. We grouped subjects by professional career. The highest ADH(+) prevalence was found in publicity, where almost no difference in subjective suffering between the groups was observed. Conclusions. High ADH(+) prevalence can be due convenience recruitment. Our results indicate that ADH(+) people can show equivalent functionality and adaptability than ADH(-) ones when they live in their preferred labor/social settings, arguing that dysfunctionality and mental suffering in adult ADHD could be secondary to social stress.