A study published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion finds that a childhood diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is linked to markedly lower attendance at religious services in early midlife, although private religious practices such as prayer appear unaffected. The work was led by sociologists Laura Upenieks and Samuel H. Fishman of Baylor University and relies on data from a large, nationally representative cohort.
ADHD is described as a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by persistent difficulties with attention, hyperactivity and impulse control. The researchers note that these traits can extend well into adulthood, shaping educational achievement, physical health and social relationships. They also highlight that religious communities can provide emotional support, coping resources and a sense of belonging—areas not frequently examined in relation to ADHD.
To explore these dynamics, the researchers analysed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a long-running study that followed participants from adolescence in the mid-1990s into early midlife (2016–2018). The final sample comprised 9,785 adults from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. Participants were grouped by whether they had been diagnosed with ADHD before age 18, after age 18, or never, and were assessed on three measures of adult religiosity: attendance at religious services, private prayer and the importance of religion in daily life.
The researchers built statistical models to assess the relationship between an ADHD diagnosis and later religious service attendance, adjusting for childhood demographics, family structure, early-life health indicators such as depression, and participants’ religious involvement as teenagers. They found that an ADHD diagnosis before age 18 was consistently associated with approximately 50 per cent lower odds of regularly attending services in early midlife, while a diagnosis in adulthood did not show the same association.
In relation to private religious practices and beliefs, initial models suggested that individuals with a childhood ADHD diagnosis were less likely to pray frequently or to view religion as highly important. However, these associations disappeared once the researchers adjusted for demographic backgrounds and adolescent religious involvement, indicating that ADHD may primarily disrupt the behavioural capacity to participate in socially structured religious settings rather than diminish personal spirituality.
The study also examined whether the ADHD–attendance link varied by race or ethnicity. An interaction model showed that the decline in attendance was substantially larger for Black and Asian American adults than for White adults. Specifically, Black participants diagnosed in childhood had 78 per cent lower odds of weekly attendance compared with White participants without an ADHD diagnosis, while Asian American adults with a childhood diagnosis exhibited a 90 per cent reduction.
Researchers suggest that differing congregational norms and structural inequalities may help explain these disparities. They note that Black congregations often host longer worship services, which may heighten attentional demands, while many Asian American religious traditions place a strong emphasis on discipline and interdependence, potentially highlighting behavioural nonconformity. The authors also point to broader healthcare inequalities that can influence diagnosis rates and disciplinary responses to behavioural challenges among Black and Asian American children.
Limitations include reliance on self-reported ADHD diagnoses, which may miss individuals without access to medical evaluation, and a focus on Christian-dominated measures of religiosity, with non-Christian traditions grouped into a general “other religion” category. The authors emphasise that ADHD diagnoses reflect sustained symptoms and institutional labeling rather than being a direct cause of disengagement, and they acknowledge that the binary diagnostic approach cannot capture severity or distinctions between hyperactivity and inattentiveness in relation to religious behaviour.
Looking ahead, the researchers argue that religious institutions may need to consider more flexible and inclusive approaches—such as sensory-friendly spaces or shorter service options—to accommodate neurodiverse members and support broader participation. They also stress the importance of future work to examine how different religious traditions with varying community norms respond to neurodiversity.
The study is titled Paths of Faith and Focus? ADHD, Adult Religiosity, and Moderation by Race in the Add Health Study, and was authored by Laura Upenieks and Samuel H. Fishman.
