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The Upside of ADHD-Related Risk-Taking: Adolescents with ADHD Report a Higher Likelihood of Engaging in Prosocial Risk-Taking Behavior than Typically Developing Adolescents

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Title: The Upside of ADHD-Related Risk-Taking: Adolescents with ADHD Report a Higher Likelihood of Engaging in Prosocial Risk-Taking Behavior than Typically Developing Adolescents
Language: English
Authors: Barbara R. Braams (ORCID 0000-0002-8688-5959), Rebecca van Rijn, Tessa Leijser, Tycho J. Dekkers (ORCID 0000-0001-8572-5606)
Source: Journal of Attention Disorders. 2025 29(10):775-786.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Risk, Prosocial Behavior, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Correlation, Comparative Analysis, Peer Groups, Conceptual Tempo, Mental Health, Health Services, Foreign Countries, Adolescents, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Participant Characteristics, Child Behavior, Behavior Problems, Questionnaires, Screening Tests, Empathy, Psychological Patterns, Measures (Individuals)
Geographic Terms: Netherlands
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
DOI: 10.1177/10870547251321882
ISSN: 1087-0547
1557-1246
Abstract: Background: ADHD is highly prevalent in adolescents. ADHD is characterized by heightened impulsive behavior and is often associated with increased risk-taking behavior in adolescence. Previous research has mostly focused on negative aspects of risk-taking behavior. However, recently two other types of risk-taking behavior have been identified: positive and prosocial risk-taking. Objective: Here, we tested whether youth with ADHD are more inclined toward positive and prosocial risk-taking. Methods: We assessed the self-reported likelihood of engaging in negative, positive, and prosocial risk-taking in a sample of 50 adolescents with ADHD (M[subscript age] = 16.3, SD = 1.18) and 54 typically developing adolescents (M[subscript age] = 16.9, SD = 0.73). Regardless of group, we found that positive, prosocial, and negative risk-taking behavior were positively correlated, higher risk-taking in one domain was associated with higher levels of risk-taking in another. Results: Crucially, we found that adolescents with ADHD were more likely to engage in prosocial risk-taking behavior compared to typically developing adolescents. We did not find group differences for negative and positive risk-taking behavior. Conclusion: Together, these results show a first indication of the upside of risk-taking in ADHD.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1476776
Database: ERIC
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Abstract:Background: ADHD is highly prevalent in adolescents. ADHD is characterized by heightened impulsive behavior and is often associated with increased risk-taking behavior in adolescence. Previous research has mostly focused on negative aspects of risk-taking behavior. However, recently two other types of risk-taking behavior have been identified: positive and prosocial risk-taking. Objective: Here, we tested whether youth with ADHD are more inclined toward positive and prosocial risk-taking. Methods: We assessed the self-reported likelihood of engaging in negative, positive, and prosocial risk-taking in a sample of 50 adolescents with ADHD (M[subscript age] = 16.3, SD = 1.18) and 54 typically developing adolescents (M[subscript age] = 16.9, SD = 0.73). Regardless of group, we found that positive, prosocial, and negative risk-taking behavior were positively correlated, higher risk-taking in one domain was associated with higher levels of risk-taking in another. Results: Crucially, we found that adolescents with ADHD were more likely to engage in prosocial risk-taking behavior compared to typically developing adolescents. We did not find group differences for negative and positive risk-taking behavior. Conclusion: Together, these results show a first indication of the upside of risk-taking in ADHD.
ISSN:1087-0547
1557-1246
DOI:10.1177/10870547251321882