The strengths of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in university students: A qualitative investigation

Abstract

Though adults with ADHD face more challenges than neurotypicals at university, they seem to have found ways to manage. This might be indicative of strengths, an area neglected in currently “deficit” focused ADHD research. This project aimed to ascertain what the strengths could be in 5 undergraduates who completed an audio-recorded semi-structured qualitative interview. Data was collected from a phenomenological perspective, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed. Courage, Humanity, Seeking Self Actualization, Vitality, as well as Wisdom and Knowledge were the 5 themes extracted using the Character Strengths and Virtues Handbook (CSV) (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). Further research on the strengths related to ADHD could increase the generalizability of these findings and add to our knowledge of this area which has been neglected by research.