Table 1 Subscales and items of the applied questionnaire on stigmatization towards adult ADHD

Subscale 1: Reliability and social functioning

1

Adults with ADHD care less about other’s problems.

2

Adults with ADHD are able to take care of a group of children in kindergarten.*

3

You cannot rely on adults with ADHD.

4

Adults with ADHD are self-focused and egoistic.

5

I would go on a date with someone with ADHD.*

6

Adults with ADHD have no problems in making friends.*

7

Adults with ADHD are less successful than adults without ADHD.

8

Adults with ADHD are able to lead a group of people.*

9

Under medication, adults with ADHD are less trustworthy.

Subscale 2: Malingering and misuse of medication

1

Many adults with ADHD simulate the symptoms.

2

Adults with ADHD misuse their medication (sell it to others, take too much…)

3

ADHD is invented by drug companies to make profit.

4

Many adults with ADHD exaggerate their symptoms in order to be medicated.

5

ADHD is a childhood disorder and not seen in adults.

6

Adults with ADHD lie more often than adults without ADHD.

7

Adults with ADHD have a lower IQ than adults without ADHD.

8

Many adults pretend to have ADHD just to get access to medication.

9

Adults with ADHD are less able to give advice.

Subscale 3: Ability to take responsibility

1

Adults with ADHD are bad parents and have problems with raising children.

2

I would mind if my investment advisor had ADHD.

3

I would not mind if a doctor who has ADHD treated me.*

4

If I had a business, I would not hire a person with an ADHD diagnosis.

5

I would mind if the teacher of my children had ADHD.

Subscale 4: Norm-violating and externalizing behavior

1

Adults with ADHD are more often involved in traffic errors.

2

I could tell when a person around me has ADHD.

3

Adults with ADHD act without thinking.

4

Adults with ADHD have a different sense of humor than adults without ADHD.

5

Adults with ADHD cannot deal with money.

Subscale 5: Consequences of diagnostic disclosure

1

People’s attitudes about ADHD make persons with ADHD feel worse about themselves.

2

Adults with ADHD are of lower social status.

3

As a rule, adults with ADHD feel that telling others that they have ADHD was a mistake.

4

Adults with ADHD have a lower self-esteem than adults without ADHD.

5

Adults with ADHD feel excluded from society.

Subscale 6: Etiology

1

1 ADHD is caused by bad parenthood.

2

Extensive exposure to video games and TV shows can cause ADHD.

3

Adults with ADHD do not engage enough in sports.

4

ADHD is a consequence of childhood trauma.