ADHD and Men's Health
Men’s Health Month: The Power of Showing Up for Yourself
ADHD is diagnosed nearly three times more often in boys than in girls, and more than half of children with ADHD will continue to have significant symptoms as adults. During this Men’s Health Month, we highlight some resources here that bring awareness of the effects of ADHD on men’s lives. Most of these articles and the podcast also offer ways to manage ADHD for improved health, relationships, and well-being.
This year, the Men’s Health Network has chosen the theme, “Partners in Care: Advancing Men’s Health Through Connection, Education, and Advocacy Across the Lifespan—for Better Lifespans.” ADHD affects every part of a man’s health and relationships, and research demonstrates that how well it is addressed directly affects the length of his lifespan.
All Things ADHD Podcasts
Men, Fatherhood, and ADHD
Anil Chacko, PhD, associate professor of psychology at NYU Steinhardt, discusses the ways ADHD affects fatherhood and family life. He explores the prevalence of ADHD in adult men, the strong genetic link between parent and child ADHD, and how ADHD symptoms can affect parenting, relationships, work, and overall wellbeing. He also examines common co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression, and substance use, and explains how untreated ADHD can contribute to long term health risks. The conversation highlights evidence-based approaches for assessment and treatment, practical strategies for managing ADHD as a parent, and how important it is for fathers to take care of their own mental health in order to better support their children and families.
Articles
- Empowering Men to Thrive with ADHD. Attention Magazine, August 2023.The services provided by Men’s ADHD Support Group include ongoing access to support and encouragement from a caring community of other men affected by the condition.
- What I Learned from Interviewing 24 Men with Inattentive ADHD. Attention Magazine, August 2023.Cynthia Hammer, MSW, interviewed men with ADHD who included physicians, psychologists, and coaches who work with clients who have ADHD. She grouped her interviews under what led to their ADHD diagnosis, their thoughts on medication, and their coping methods and strategies.
- Men’s Health Month Promotes Awareness, Prevention, Education, and Family. ADHD Weekly, June 2, 2022.ADHD affects all parts of a man’s life, including his health and well-being. Managing ADHD is an important part of a man’s responsibility to himself and those who care about him.
- Men: Treat ADHD to Improve Your Health. ADHD Weekly, May 2, 2019.ADHD symptoms easily get in the way of wellness. So, how can men keep themselves healthy while also addressing ADHD? Two experts on ADHD and men’s health weigh in.
- Where Can Adults with ADHD Find the Best Treatment? Attention Magazine, October 2019. The variety of specialists who treat adult ADHD can make you dizzy. Here’s what to consider when choosing the right type of specialist for you.
- Survival Tips for the Spouse Who Doesn’t Have ADHD. Attention Magazine, June 2018. Is it possible to build a better relationship when your partner has ADHD, and you don’t? Get tips to help you strengthen your relationship and improve communication.
- Don’t Give Up, Don’t Give In: Survival Skills for the Non-ADHD Partner. Attention Magazine, June 2018. The ADHD-affected relationship can be very challenging due to common ADHD symptoms. Rather than giving up or giving in, the non-ADHD partner can, with help, find a way to stay in the relationship with less distress by using different ways of thinking and by practicing healthier responses.
- Inattentive ADHD in Boys. Attention Magazine, April 2022. Boys who have ADHD are thought to be on the go, always jumping into action before thinking through the consequences. When your son has the inattentive presentation of ADHD, your strategies for parenting him can be a bit different than you expected.
Podcasts
- Fathering with ADHD. Carey Heller, PsyD, discusses the best interventions for men with ADHD, tips for how to overcome common challenges that arise when you have ADHD and are raising children, what to look for in an ADHD support practitioner, and shares helpful resources for fathers with ADHD.
- ADHD and the “Just Right” RelationshipADHD symptoms can have profound effects on adult relationships, especially dating and marriage. But the person who has ADHD is not the sole cause of problems. Transforming your relationship starts with both partners understanding the role ADHD plays and practicing non-defensive listening. Melissa Orlov provides tools to help couples create a responsive relationship that feels “just right” for both individuals.
Additional Resources
- It Matters Which Romantic Partner Has ADHD. Psychology Today, September 1, 2019.The symptoms of ADHD aren’t really that different between men and women, but how they affect men and women can be different. And that can determine how well the relationship works out.
- African-American Mothers Rate Boys Higher for ADHD. Medical Xpress, November 30, 2018.African American mothers in a study rated boys as displaying more frequent ADHD symptoms than Caucasian mothers did, regardless of child race. The findings mean that racial differences found in prior studies may be more due to maternal race than child race.
- Study Explains Why Men Are More at Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders. News-Medical.net, July 4, 2018.Disorders such as autism and ADHD are more common among men and boys. Researchers may have found the reason why: a molecule that plays an important role in placental health is involved in determining sex-specific patterns of gene expression.
- Can We Predict the Long-Term Outcome of Boys with ADHD? ScienceDaily, August 1, 2018.A new study reports on a group of boys diagnosed with ADHD in childhood and followed into adulthood. Researchers examined whether boys' characteristics in childhood and adolescence predicted their subsequent school performance, their work, and social adjustment. They found that boys who had concrete educational goals for their future in adolescence had better overall functioning in adulthood.
- CHADD Resources for Adults with ADHDApproximately 10 million adults have ADHD. Learn more about adult ADHD, how to treat it through lifestyle support and medication management, and ways to craft a life you want to lead.