People with ADHD are more likely to experience sexual problems and sexual distress
Distressing Problems with Sexual Function and Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder | Archives of Sexual Behavior
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-024-02977-4
New study links ADHD symptoms to distressing sexual problems
https://www.psypost.org/new-study-finds-link-between-adhd-symptoms-and-distressing-sexual-problems/
Cognitive models of sexual dysfunction posit attention deficits as one of the underlying mechanisms for sexual difficulties, and so researchers have hypothesized that people with ADHD who have attention deficits may be at higher risk for sexual problems.
'After all, sexual activity often requires focus and emotional attunement -- traits that may be hindered by ADHD symptoms,' says PsyPost.
Although research on ADHD and sexual function has been conducted in the past, most studies have had small sample sizes and did not evaluate 'sexual distress,' an essential factor in diagnosing sexual dysfunction. Therefore, a research team from the University of British Columbia in Canada decided to investigate these associations using a large sample and a validated tool.
The study enrolled 943 adults from Canada, who completed a series of questionnaires via an online platform assessing symptoms related to attention, sexual function, and sexual distress, with 106 participants meeting the criteria for a probable diagnosis of ADHD based on a screening tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Sexual function was measured using
The data showed that people with higher ADHD severity were more likely to have problems with sexual functioning and to experience more frequent distress in their sex lives. Specifically, people with more ADHD symptoms reported more difficulty reaching orgasm and less satisfaction when they did. People with ADHD were also more likely to be worried or upset about their sex lives.
'However, there were no significant differences between men with ADHD and those without in sexual desire, arousal, or physical responses such as lubrication or erection. This pattern suggests that attention problems related to ADHD may interfere with later stages of sexual response, especially those that require sustained concentration and sensory regulation.'
The study found that younger people with ADHD symptoms were more likely to have orgasmic difficulties, which may be because ADHD symptoms often subside with age.
And while the relationship between ADHD symptoms and sexual distress was found in both men and women, the association was stronger in men, suggesting that men with ADHD may feel more pressured due to societal expectations around sexual performance.
A key finding was that people with high ADHD were more than twice as likely to meet the clinical criteria for distressing sexual dysfunction than those without. Further investigation revealed that the association between ADHD symptoms and sexual distress could be partially explained by difficulties in emotion regulation. In other words, people with ADHD are more likely to have trouble controlling intense emotions, which can make them more upset and less able to cope when faced with sexual problems.
The research team concluded: 'These data support an association between ADHD and distressing sexual functioning problems and emotion regulation difficulties as a potential mechanism underlying ADHD and sexual dysfunction.'
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