ASCEND

Social acceptance is essential for human growth. Human development takes place within the context of social interactions and connectedness with others. Acceptance within relationships with parents, peers, and romantic partners contributes to positive development, but this process can be undermined by experiences of rejection or criticism.

This, for example, often happens for young people with ADHD. From an early age, they are confronted with criticism about their “disruptive” or “difficult” behavior. Such experiences influence how they perceive their social environment, as well as how they view themselves. Even in adulthood, these experiences can have lasting consequences for their functioning, for example in the domains of identity development, romantic relationships, and work.

Project ASCEND (Acceptance, Support & self-Compassion in ADHD: Emerging adults Navigating Development) investigates the role of psychosocial factors in the developmental challenges experienced by emerging adults with ADHD symptoms. How do earlier experiences shape the way they perceive their social world and themselves? How is this related to their current functioning in adulthood? Can factors such as self-compassion and social support mitigate the negative outcomes associated with ADHD symptoms?