Objectives: Individuals with ADHD struggle with social impairments. The present study aimed to find out the inconsistent results of theory of mind skill in individuals with ADHD.
Methods: The current meta-analysis reviewed 17 empirical studies that compared theory of mind in individuals with and without ADHD based on reading mind from the eyes test (RMET).
Results: Finding from 1620 participants with ADHD and 1249 healthy controls showed a significant impairment in theory of mind in individuals with ADHD (Hedges' g = 0.66). Moderator analyses indicated that the impaired theory of mind was not affected by age and gender.
Conclusion: These findings describe impaired theory of mind in individuals with ADHD and provide an insight to pay attention to theory of mind in respective clinical assessments and treatments.
Keywords: Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); meta-analysis; reading mind from the eyes test (RMET); social cognition; theory of mind.