New study links ADHD symptoms to distressing sexual problems

A new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior has found that adults who show signs of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are more likely to experience problems with sexual function and distress about their sex lives. People who met the threshold for likely ADHD were over twice as likely to report distressing sexual issues compared to those without ADHD symptoms. The findings suggest that difficulties with attention and emotional regulation may play a role in these sexual concerns.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that includes problems with attention, distractibility, impulsivity, and emotion regulation. These core difficulties can impact many aspects of daily life. Researchers have long suspected that these challenges may also interfere with sexual functioning. Sexual activity, after all, often requires focus and emotional attunement—traits that can be disrupted by ADHD symptoms.

While earlier studies offered mixed results, many had small sample sizes and didn’t assess sexual distress, which is an essential factor in diagnosing sexual dysfunction. The new study sought to clarify these connections using a large sample and validated measurement tools.

To investigate the link between ADHD symptoms and sexual problems, the researchers collected data from 943 adults living in Canada. Participants were recruited through an online platform and completed a set of questionnaires assessing their attention-related symptoms, sexual function, and feelings of sexual distress. Of the total sample, 106 people met the threshold for a likely ADHD diagnosis based on a widely used screening tool developed by the World Health Organization.

Sexual functioning was assessed with the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, which looks at several areas including sexual desire, arousal, ability to reach orgasm, satisfaction with orgasm, and physical responses like lubrication or erection. To evaluate distress related to sexual issues, the researchers used a short form of the Sexual Distress Scale, which measures how often someone feels anxious, frustrated, or inadequate because of problems with their sex life.

After analyzing the data, the researchers found that greater ADHD symptom severity was linked to more problems with sexual functioning and more frequent sexual distress. Specifically, people with more ADHD symptoms reported greater difficulty reaching orgasm and less satisfaction when they did. These individuals were also more likely to feel worried or upset about their sex lives.

When comparing people with likely ADHD to those without, the differences were especially clear in certain domains. Those with ADHD symptoms reported more problems with orgasm ability and orgasm satisfaction. They also had higher levels of sexual distress overall. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in sexual desire, arousal, or physical readiness for sex, such as lubrication or erection. This pattern suggests that attention-related symptoms may interfere more with the later stages of sexual response, particularly those that require sustained focus or regulation of sensations.

The study also explored whether age, sex, and sexual orientation might influence these patterns. Age did seem to matter: younger participants with ADHD symptoms showed stronger associations with orgasm difficulties than older participants. This might be because ADHD symptoms often decrease in intensity with age.

The researchers also found that sex assigned at birth moderated the relationship between ADHD symptoms and sexual distress. While the association was present in both males and females, it was stronger in males. One possible explanation is that men with ADHD may feel more pressure to perform sexually, and problems with orgasm could carry more emotional weight because of social expectations around male sexual performance.

Another key finding was that individuals with likely ADHD were more than twice as likely as those without to meet the clinical criteria for distressing sexual dysfunction. This means that their sexual difficulties were not just present but also causing meaningful emotional harm. When the researchers looked more closely, they found that the link between ADHD symptoms and sexual distress could be partly explained by emotion regulation difficulties. People with ADHD often struggle to manage intense emotions, and this may make sexual problems feel more upsetting and harder to cope with.

“Taken together, these data support associations between ADHD and distressing sexual function problems, and difficulties with emotion regulation as a potential mechanism underlying ADHD and sexual dysfunction,” the researchers concluded.

However, there are some limitations to keep in mind. The study did not include clinical interviews to confirm ADHD diagnoses, so some participants with high scores might not meet formal criteria. It’s also possible that other mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, could account for some of the findings.

Despite these limitations, the results offer new insight into how ADHD symptoms may affect sexual well-being. The study supports the idea that attention and emotion regulation difficulties—core features of ADHD—can interfere with sexual satisfaction and contribute to distress. It also highlights the importance of assessing sexual health in people with ADHD, something that is often overlooked in both clinical and research settings.

The study, “Distressing Problems with Sexual Function and Symptoms of Attention‑Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder,” was authored by Simone Y. Goldberg, Maya C. Thulin, Hyoun S. Kim, and Samantha J. Dawson.