Project Description

Increasing numbers of adults are being diagnosed as autistic, and/or as having ADHD, and a proportion will be parents. Parenting may amplify the overlapping defining features of ADHD and autism (e.g., social/communication, sensory, emotional regulation, executive functioning differences).

ADHD and autism are highly heritable, thus it is highly likely that many parents of neurodivergent children will themselves be neurodivergent (defined here as people who have ADHD and/or who are autistic). Whilst literature is sparse, neurodivergent parents have reported experiencing high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Relatedly, a wealth of literature reports that parents of neurodivergent children are more likely to experience mental health problems than parents of neurotypical children.

A recent meta-analysis established that autistic adults are much more likely to attempt suicide than general population samples (24.3% vs. 3%), and ADHD has been found to be an independent risk factor for suicidal behaviours. There is a dearth of literature exploring mental health, suicidality, self-injury, and self-harm in neurodivergent parents, but parallel research seems to indicate that these may be prevalent issues for neurodivergent parents.

This project seeks to examine the relationships between neurodivergence, parenting, mental health problems, and suicidal thoughts and behaviours. It comprises three studies: (1) a systematic review about mental health, suicidality, and support in neurodivergent and neurotypical parents, (2) based on the findings of the systematic review, interviews with neurodivergent parents about mental health, suicidality risk factors, and support, and (3) a national survey of mental health, suicidality, and support in neurodivergent and neurotypical parents.