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ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders
Published in: ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders 2/2018

Open Access 01-06-2018 | Original Article

Reduced emotional empathy in adults with subclinical ADHD: evidence from the empathy and systemizing quotient

Authors: Y. Groen, A. E. den Heijer, A. B. M. Fuermaier, M. Althaus, O. Tucha

Published in: ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders | Issue 2/2018

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Abstract

Studies in children with ADHD suggest impairments in social cognitive functions, whereas studies in adults with ADHD are scarce and inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ADHD traits and self-reported social cognitive style in a sample of adults from the general population. For this purpose, a community sample of 685 adults filled out online self-report questionnaires about ADHD symptoms (ADHD Rating Scale, ARS), social cognitive functioning and friendships. The Empathy Quotient (EQ) with the subscales Cognitive Empathy (CE), Emotional Empathy (EE) and Social Skills (SS), and the Systemizing Quotient (SQ) were included for measuring social cognitive style and the Friendship Questionnaire (FQ) for the quality of friendships. Participants who met the DSM-5 criteria on the ARS (‘subclinical ADHD’; n = 56) were compared regarding their social cognitive functioning scores with a control group (n = 56) that was matched for age, sex and student status. With small effect sizes, the subclinical ADHD group showed reduced EE scores on the EQ and a more male social cognitive profile. This result was not influenced by sex or ADHD subtype. This study points to a relationship between traits of ADHD and the emotional aspect of empathy, whereas more complex aspects of empathy were unrelated. These findings should be corroborated in clinical patients with ADHD, employing neuropsychological tests rather than self-report questionnaires.
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Metadata
Title
Reduced emotional empathy in adults with subclinical ADHD: evidence from the empathy and systemizing quotient
Authors
Y. Groen
A. E. den Heijer
A. B. M. Fuermaier
M. Althaus
O. Tucha
Publication date
01-06-2018
Publisher
Springer Vienna
Published in
ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders / Issue 2/2018
Print ISSN: 1866-6116
Electronic ISSN: 1866-6647
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-017-0236-7

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