Financial Vulnerability Among Swedish Young Adults with Self-Reported ADHD: A Secondary Analysis of Cross-Sectional Survey Data

The increasing prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Western countries highlights the need to better understand its impact on everyday functioning, including financial outcomes. This study examines financial vulnerability among Swedish young adults with self-reported ADHD diagnosis. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among young adults (N = 2057). Group differences were examined between individuals with self-reported ADHD diagnosis (n = 149) and those without a psychiatric diagnosis (n = 1380). Logistic regression analyses assessed associations between ADHD diagnosis, financial health variables (financial strain, financial self-control, and financial literacy), and indicators of financial vulnerability, controlling for age and gender. Individuals with self-reported ADHD exhibited significantly poorer outcomes across all financial health variables compared to controls. In the multivariable analyses, an ADHD diagnosis was significantly associated with two of the three indicators of financial vulnerability, with higher odds of taking out consumer loans without understanding the terms (OR = 2.4) and having informal debt to friends or relatives (OR = 1.8). ADHD was not significantly associated with outstanding consumer loan debt for more than 18 months (OR = 1.5). Young adults with ADHD may therefore be at increased risk of financial vulnerability, potentially reflecting a combination of financial, psychological, and behavioural factors. These findings may inform the development and future evaluation of financial education and support initiatives for young adults with ADHD.