A recent study reveals that popular TikTok videos about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are perceived differently by healthcare professionals than by younger viewers, underscoring the significant influence of social media on how we understand health issues.

Two clinical psychologists specializing in ADHD reviewed 100 popular TikTok videos about the condition, which impacts behavior and is marked by trouble focusing and hyperactivity or impulsive actions.

The two psychologists discovered that less than half (48.7 percent) of the statements in the videos correctly portrayed ADHD symptoms as outlined in the diagnostic guidelines.

Next, over 800 undergraduate students were asked to view 10 TikTok videos selected by the experts—the top-rated and lowest-ranked for reliability.

The research paper, which was published in the

journal

On Wednesday, PLOS One disclosed a difference in perception between experts and students regarding the videos.

For the psychologists’ highly ranked top five videos, young viewers scored them relatively lower at 2.8 as opposed to the experts’ average score of 3.6 out of 5.

Young individuals assessed the least trustworthy videos at 2.3 out of 5, significantly higher than the 1.1 out of 5 rating provided by the experts.

“Altogether, this document presents significant implications and provides an equitable perspective on the influence of social media,” stated Dr Blandine French, a senior researcher at the University of Nottingham in the UK who did not participate in the study, in a released comment.

“But it also raises concern about viewers relying on this content as educational and support sources. The lack of nuance, evidence base, and reliability of these video[s] is very high. Now this doesn’t mean that it is always bad, but it is to be taken with extreme caution,” she added.

Well-known videos, but only a few makers have qualifications.

The researchers discovered that the leading ADHD videos garnered substantial attention, amassing almost five hundred million views.

The majority of the videos didn’t cite sources, and only about 20% of content producers included their qualifications within the video itself. Slightly more than a third posted their credentials in their TikTok profiles.

Of those who provided credentials, 83.6 percent mentioned their personal experiences, whereas 13.1 percent identified themselves as life coaches.

Only 1.6 percent stated they were a therapist or counselor without sharing their license details, and another 1.6 percent mentioned they were a licensed mental health professional. The study found that none of the participants claimed to have a PhD, PsyD, or MD.

Approximately fifty percent of the creators advertised goods or aimed for monetary rewards.

Research serves as an ‘initial step’

Individuals with either a self-reported or officially confirmed diagnosis of ADHD showed higher engagement with the videos. Notably, people who made their own diagnoses found the psychologists’ least popular videos to be more favorable compared to those diagnosed clinically.

French mentioned that this was “intriguing yet possibly concerning.”

“The diagnosed group seemed better able to tell the difference between quality of information, while self-diagnosed were not as able to do so,” she said.

The limitations of this study involve the fact that the participants were undergraduate students enrolled in a psychology course and predominantly female; external experts have thus advised against broadening these results to wider populations.

A representative from TikTok told Euronews Health in an official statement that the platform offers users “access to trustworthy mental health resources” and guides them towards information provided by the Cleveland Clinic, National Institute of Mental Health, and World Health Organization.

TikTok also advises people to consult professionals if they require assistance.

The researchers indicate that their work “offers an initial perspective on how ADHD is portrayed on TikTok.”

“TikTok can serve as a powerful platform for increasing awareness and diminishing stigma, yet it comes with its own set of drawbacks,” stated Vasileia Karasavva, a PhD candidate in clinical psychology at the University of British Columbia in Canada and the principal investigator of the study, in a press release.

Adequate anecdotes and individual stories hold great power; however, without proper context, these narratives might result in misconceptions regarding ADHD as well as overall mental health issues.

The narrative has been refreshed to include a statement from TikTok.