Date of Award

6-2025

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Sociology

First Advisor

Whitney DeCamp, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Elena Gapova, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Zoann Synder, Ph.D.

Fourth Advisor

Glenn Tsunokai, Ph.D.

Keywords

ADHD, intersectionality, neurodivergence, self-diagnosis, social media, women

Abstract

This dissertation explores the phenomenon of adult women who self-diagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) through content encountered on social media platforms. Drawing on interpretive phenomenological analysis of ten in-depth interviews, the study investigates the emotional, cognitive, and institutional dimensions of this self-diagnosis process. Participants, all over the age of 30, reported that social media played a transformative role in helping them recognize ADHD traits in themselves. Rather than being misinformed or seeking shortcuts, participants engaged thoughtfully with ADHD-related content, valuing lived experience itself as a meaningful source of recognition and reflection. Their engagement was not primarily with educational materials but with relatable, often humorous posts that helped them make sense of longstanding patterns in their lives. The findings highlight the role of hermeneutical injustice, the connective power of shared experience, and the influence of algorithmic platforms in shaping access to insight. To further understand these dynamics, the study proposes Neurotype Strain Theory, a sociological framework that reinterprets Merton’s classic strain theory to reveal neurotypicality as an unmarked but deeply institutionalized power structure.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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