Childhood ADHD diagnosis linked to lower adult religious attendance
A childhood ADHD diagnosis is linked to a steep decline in adult religious service attendance, especially among Black and Asian American adults. Private spiritual practices like prayer, however, remain largely unaffected by the neurodevelopmental condition.
A study from Baylor University reveals that a childhood diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is linked to lower attendance at religious services in adulthood, particularly among Black and Asian American adults. However, the condition does not seem to hinder private religious practices such as prayer. ADHD, marked by persistent issues with attention, hyperactivity, and impulse control, can make it challenging to follow structured religious gatherings, potentially leading to feelings of exclusion or alienation.
Researchers Laura Upenieks and Samuel H. Fishman analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, which included 9,785 adults. They found that individuals diagnosed with ADHD before age 18 were 50% less likely to regularly attend services in early midlife compared to those without a diagnosis. This effect was not observed in adults diagnosed with ADHD later in life.
When considering private religious practices, the study found that childhood ADHD was associated with less frequent prayer and reduced importance placed on religion, but this connection disappeared after adjusting for demographic factors and past religious involvement. The impact of ADHD on religious attendance was notably larger for Black and Asian American adults, with Black participants experiencing a 78% lower likelihood of weekly service attendance and Asian Americans facing a 90% lower likelihood compared to White adults.
Factors such as longer worship services in Black congregations and cultural emphasis on discipline in Asian American traditions may contribute to this disparity. Structural inequalities in healthcare also play a role, as Black and Asian American children are often under-diagnosed or face punitive measures rather than receiving appropriate treatment for ADHD.
The study's reliance on self-reported diagnoses means it cannot account for under-diagnosed individuals or varying severity of ADHD symptoms.
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