SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry
Sec. Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Volume 4 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/frcha.2025.1582502
Sex Differences in Children and Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Literature Review
Provisionally accepted
- 1University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- 2ASL-CN1 Neuropsichiatria Infantile Cuneo-Mondovì, Mondovì, Italy
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This systematic review aimed to synthesize existing research on the symptomatological and behavioural differences between male and female attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in individuals aged 6 to 18 years. ADHD is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests differently across genders, potentially impacting the diagnosis, treatment, and overall management of the condition. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 (PRISMA guidelines), we conducted a comprehensive literature search and identified 54 records published between 2008 and 2024 that met our inclusion criteria.The findings of the review were organized into seven thematic areas, underlining the multifaceted impact of ADHD on the lives of males and females. Our review examined both direct sex differences-comparing female ADHD subjects to their male counterparts-and the disorder's sex-specific effects, revealing nuanced patterns of compromission. Results indicated significant differences between males and females with ADHD across several domains, including the prevalence and intensity of core symptoms, cognitive functioning, and the nature of externalizing versus internalizing behaviours. Notably, variations were observed in the ways symptoms manifest, such as in aggression and emotional regulation.Furthermore, the review highlighted how ADHD's impact is influenced by the subject's sex, specifically affecting neuropsychomotor development, social interactions, and self-esteem. Age-related differences concerning the evolution of symptoms and cognitive functions were also explored, shedding light on how developmental trajectories may differ between sexes.In conclusion, a comprehensive understanding of sex specificity in relation to ADHD is critical for informing effective diagnosis and treatment strategies. This review underscores the need for further research to elucidate these differences, ultimately contributing to more tailored and sex-sensitive approaches in ADHD management.
Keywords: ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder), sex differences, Gender Medicine, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, developmental trajectories, executive functions, social functioning, impairment differences
Received: 24 Feb 2025; Accepted: 03 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Dimitri, Delia, Cavallo, Varini and Fioretto. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Francesco Cavallo, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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