A child with a sign I have ADHD
A child with a sign I have ADHD

Project 'Who am I? ADHD and identity' awarded by Anna Terruwe Fonds

A lot of individuals, children as well as adults, suffer from forgetfulness and distraction, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Independent of whether these individuals “tick” all the boxes to reach the criteria for an official ADHD diagnosis, they can face substantial daily challenges. And: it seems that their deepest suffering often relates not to these behaviors, but to the negative and critical reactions they have received during their lives and how this has impacted their self-esteem and their identity.

In clinical practice, Leentje Vervoort and Anouk Scheres (both from the Social Development group) often see young adults with ADHD-like symptoms who have limited sense of who they are, what they feel and what they need. These young people seem to have lost their connection with their emotions and needs. 

Thanks to being awarded a project fund by the Anna Terruwe Fonds, Leentje, Anouk and Enja Jung started a project aimed at increasing awareness on the role of identity development in individuals with ADHD features. For the scientific side, the goal is to strengthen the evidence base for the role identity development plays in relation to ADHD: They will put a spotlight on the stories of people with ADHD with the support of Serena Daalmans from Communication Science. As a validation aim, the project will also organize a symposium in 2026 for scientists, clinicians, caregivers, experience experts and the public to connect science and society. Stay tuned because at that symposium, a short movie with stories of people with ADHD will premiere!

If you want to share ideas or thoughts on this project or collaborate (also if you’re a student), we invite you to contact Leentje or Anouk.

Contactinformatie

Organisatieonderdeel
Behavioural Science Institute
Thema
Gedrag