Boredom Common in ADHD

REVIEW OF: Muris P et al, Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2026

STUDY TYPE: Narrative and meta-analytic review

People with ADHD aren’t exaggerating when they describe boredom as unbearable — the data back them up, and the mechanisms explain why.

Authors from the Netherlands pooled 18 studies (N = 22,365) examining the relationship between boredom and ADHD. The aggregate effect size was r = 0.40, a moderately strong positive association that was consistent across every study in the dataset despite substantial heterogeneity.

Translated into practical terms: Roughly 70 out of 100 individuals with ADHD fall in the high-boredom range, compared to about 30 out of 100 without ADHD. Both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity contribute to boredom, though through in different ways — inattention linked more to difficulty generating internal engagement, while hyperactivity-impulsivity linked more to a need for external stimulation.

The authors propose that cortical hypoarousal, default mode network dysregulation, executive dysfunction, and altered reward sensitivity all converge to make low-stimulation environments particularly intolerable for people with ADHD. Stimulant medication appears to reduce boredom in parallel with ADHD symptom reduction, though the evidence base for this is still limited.

Practice Implications

1. Boredom helps us understand the experience of ADHD, but it is not part of the criteria because it is transdiagnostic, seen in many disorders
2. Boredom is also common in borderline personality disorder, depression, and substance use disorders
3. Framing boredom as a neurobiological signal rather than a character flaw can reduce shame and open the door to practical strategies: Structuring tasks differently, building in novelty, and treating the underlying disorder
4. ADHD is difficult to diagnose — particularly in adults — start with structured DSM-5 based testing like the DIVA or this computerized version

—Chris Aiken, MD
Director, Psych Partners
Editor in Chief, Carlat Psychiatry Report

Share Your Input in Comments

1. Do your ADHD patients complain of boredom?
2. Does it improve with treatment?