Study: Having ADHD costs $1.1 million in lower lifetime earnings, even when “treated”

___ Relatively few studies have examined the impact of childhood ADHD on long-term financial outcomes, even though becoming self-supporting and attaining financial independence is an important developmental task. An especially comprehensive look at this issue is provided in a study by Pelham et al published recently in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. The Study: Participants were 364 adults who were diagnosed with ADHD in childhood along with 264 demographically matched controls. All participants with ADHD had attended an intensive summer treatment program and 90% had been treated with stimulant medication at some time. Participants were followed over a 20-year period, and information related to their financial status, educational attainment, and ADHD symptoms were obtained at age 25 and again at age 30. This enabled the researchers to examine 4 questions: 1. How did financial outcomes at age 30 compare for ADHD participants and controls? To what extend did this depend on their educational attainment and the degree to which ADHD symptoms had persisted? 2. How did the financial trajectory of participants with and without ADHD differ from age 25 to 30? 3. What were the projected differences in lifetime earnings? 4. What were the projected differences in net worth at retirement? The Results: Financial outcomes at age 30 - At age 30, participants with childhood ADHD were more likely to be unemployed (22% vs. 13%) and to be living at home (33% vs. 12%). On averag...
Source: SharpBrains - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Attention and ADD/ADHD Cognitive Neuroscience Education & Lifelong Learning Health & Wellness ADHD-diagnosis adults children Clinical Psychology educational attainment financial status lifetime earnings stimulant medication Source Type: blogs