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Cited by 103Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderDisability Education and EmploymentPersonal Information Management and User Behavior

ADHD at the workplace: ADHD symptoms, diagnostic status, and work-related functioning

Open access
Fuermaier, Anselm B. M., Tucha, Lara, Butzbach, Marah, Weisbrod, Matthias, Aschenbrenner, Steffen, Tucha, Oliver·2021·Journal of Neural Transmission
DOI 10.1007/s00702-021-02309-zPMC PMC8295111
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Abstract

Adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) commonly experience impairments in multiple domains of daily living. Work has a central role in daily life and is susceptible to ADHD due to its cognitive demands. The present study seeks to examine the nature of work-related problems and impairments of adults with ADHD, and explores the association to ADHD symptoms and neuropsychological test performance. A community sample of 1231 individuals took part in this study and completed a set of questionnaires assessing ADHD symptoms and work-related problems. Furthermore, a clinical sample of 134 adults diagnosed with ADHD were recruited from an ADHD outpatient clinic, who completed the same set of questionnaires. A subsample of 51 patients with ADHD additionally performed a neuropsychological assessment using tests of attention and executive functions. Work-related problems were found both in individuals of the community sample with symptoms of ADHD and individuals diagnosed with ADHD. Individuals with ADHD reported work related problems particularly in not meeting their own standards and perceived potential, yet it less commonly manifests in negative performance evaluations at work or job loss. ADHD symptoms, in particular symptoms of inattention, were found to be strongly associated with work-related problems, whereas neuropsychological test performance was no meaningful predictor of functioning at work. This study emphasizes the susceptibility of individuals' functioning at work to ADHD symptoms and impairments associated with ADHD. ADHD related difficulties at work should be considered in the clinical evaluation and targeted screening at the work place to provide support when indicated.

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  • Emotional impulsivity and low frustration tolerance can precipitate interpersonal conflict, while inattention may be misinterpreted as disinterest or irresponsibility.

    “Emotional impulsivity and low frustration tolerance can precipitate interpersonal conflict, while inattention may be misinterpreted as disinterest or irresponsibility [10,97,198].”

    From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [198]

    The Discussion reports problems with supervisors and teamwork among adults with ADHD, and the General conclusions link inattention to work-related problems. Neither passage says that emotional impulsivity or low frustration tolerance precipitates interpersonal conflict, or that others interpret inattention as disinterest or irresponsibility. The study’s correlational design also does not establish those proposed mechanisms. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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  • Workplace studies show that impairments in time management and self-organization mediate the link between ADHD symptoms and job burnout, suggesting executive dysfunction operates as a proximal driver of occupational underperformance.

    “These patterns are empirically supported: workplace studies show that impairments in time management and self-organization mediate the link between ADHD symptoms and job burnout, suggesting that executive dysfunction operates as a proximal driver of occupational underperformance [10,97,198].”

    From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [198]

    The General conclusions report a strong association between ADHD symptoms, especially inattention, and work-related problems. The paper does not report that time-management or self-organization impairments mediate a link to job burnout; its Limitations and future directions section cautions that ADHD symptoms and work problems may co-occur without being causally linked. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Authors
Fuermaier, A. B. M., Tucha, L., Butzbach, M., Weisbrod, M., Aschenbrenner, S., & Tucha, O.
Affiliations
  • University of Groningen (NL)
  • Heidelberg University (DE)
  • SRH Klinikum Karlsbad-Langensteinbach (DE)
  • National University of Ireland, Maynooth (IE)
Corresponding author
Fuermaier, Anselm B. M.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Neural Transmission
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2021-02-02
Volume
128
Issue
7
Pages
1021-1031
ISSN
  • 0300-9564 (ISSN-L)
  • 1435-1463
DOI
10.1007/s00702-021-02309-z
PMC
PMC8295111
OpenAlex
W3128446842
Cited by
103
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 7
FWCI
8.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Neural Transmission (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Disability Education and Employment
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Personal Information Management and User Behavior
Keywords
adult ADHD, work-related problems, ADHD symptoms, inattention, executive function, attention, neuropsychological performance, employee performance, workplace screening, job loss
MeSH terms
Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Cognition, Humans, Neuropsychological Tests, Surveys and Questionnaires, Executive Function

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