Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Jan 7, 2025
Date Accepted: Mar 19, 2025
Representations of ADHD and autism have converged on social media: A linguistic and topic analysis of trends in Reddit data.
ABSTRACT
Background:
Interest in the co-occurrence and overlap of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism has risen since the DSM-5 allowed them to be diagnosed together in 2013. Public attention to the two conditions has also risen due to neurodiversity advocacy on social media, although the impact of this heightened visibility remains underexplored.
Objective:
We aim to examine how the relationship between ADHD and autism has evolved in public discourse over the past decade and explore reasons for their growing alignment.
Methods:
Using Reddit data from 2012 to 2022, we investigated the frequency of ADHD mentions in r/autism and autism mentions in r/ADHD. We analyzed user overlap between the two subreddits to track cross-community discussions. Semantic similarities between ADHD and autism were also evaluated. Finally, thematic changes in subreddit discussions were explored using a BERT-based topic modeling method.
Results:
ADHD and autism have become progressively more associated based on increasing co-mentions, overlapping users, and semantic similarity. In addition, topic modeling indicated growing thematic convergence in ADHD- and autism-related discussions, which reflected an increasing shared emphasis on the experiences of adults with ADHD and autism, challenges in accessing diagnostic assessments, and interpersonal difficulties.
Conclusions:
Our study clarifies how discourse around these two conditions has converged during a period when they have both attracted rising public attention.
Citation
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