College Students\u27 Perceptions and Misconceptions about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Between 3 and 7 percent of children have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (American Psychiatric Association, 2000), with even higher estimates of those children continuing to have symptoms into adolescence and adulthood. As this diagnosis becomes more prevalent it is affecting a greater number of college-age students; therefore, this study aimed to discover the perceptions and misconceptions college students have about ADHD. In addition, this study examined the perceptions and misconceptions of the legal and illegal usage of ADHD medications. College students with and without ADHD completed similar questionnaires regarding their views on this topic. Results have been analyzed to determine if any statistical significance has been found regarding the students’ perceptions and misconceptions of ADHD. Results from this study have also been compared to the results from a previous study involving middle and high-school students. Implications and future directions will be discussed