In some parts of the world, the number of girls diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is surpassing boys, according to new research − a trend we've not yet seen in the United States.
In the study, published April 8 in JAMA, researchers found ADHD diagnoses in post-pandemic years among female adolescents and young adults in British Columbia, Canada surpassed same-aged males for the first time on record. High school-aged adolescents were defined as ages 13 to 17 and young adults as 18 to 29.
The study analyzed British Columbia health data from more than 2.7 million patients aged 3 to 29 from 2003 to 2023.
Why did these increases occur? The authors suggest a few explanations, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Pandemic-related stressors may have further intensified ADHD symptoms and facilitated the identification of previously unmet needs, with female adolescents and young adults potentially being more vulnerable to social disruptions than males," the authors write.
