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The Compelling Truth About ADHD and Narcissism: Researchers Uncover the Link.
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) are both the subject of much research and debate. While they may seem unrelated, recent studies have found a correlation between the two disorders.
This article is not about shaming people with a neurodivergent diagnosis; it is about empowering people struggling in toxic relationships with narcissists who are also neurodivergent and helping them to understand their partners better as they work out how to navigate, exit and heal from the relationship.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology in 2016 looked at the relationship between ADHD symptoms and narcissistic traits in a sample of college students. The study found that individuals with higher levels of ADHD symptoms also had higher levels of narcissistic traits. Additionally, the same study found that individuals with higher levels of narcissistic traits were more likely to engage in impulsive and reckless behaviours, which are also symptoms of ADHD.
(Reference: “The Relationship between Adult ADHD Symptoms and Narcissistic Traits”, Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2016)
A second study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology in 2018 investigated the link between ADHD and…
