Online News Media Portrayal of ADHD on the Websites of BBC and CNN International during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Purpose. Individuals with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have experienced exacerbated symptoms and negative effects during the pandemic on both physical and mental health. However, the leading global news websites did not cover the vulnerabilities and special needs of individuals with ADHD in the context of the neurodiversity approach. I argue that both cnn.com and bbc.com did not incorporate the neurodiversity approach aiming to increase acceptance and inclusion of the differences without viewing them as deficits. Methods. The present study explores online news media portrayal of ADHD during the COVID-19 pandemic through content analysis between March 2020 and October 2022. The news articles mentioning ADHD (64 from bbc.com and 56 from cnn.com) were analyzed. Results. Findings show that ADHD was dominantly framed as a medical issue, far from the neurodiversity perspective. Only 13 news articles among 64 (approximately 20%) on bbc.com and 4 among 56 (less than 10%) on cnn.com incorporated the neurodiversity approach that would benefit both individuals with ADHD and the whole society during the pandemic. Practice Implications. The findings show a need for more awareness of neurodiversity in the news media and a broader coverage of ADHD-related neurodiversity during the pandemic.