Each month, the open access team of the University of Groningen Library (UB) puts a recent open access article by UG authors in the spotlight. This publication is highlighted via social media and the library’s newsletter and website.

The article in the spotlight for the month of November 2025 is titled 'Exploring concept creep: Youth’s portrayal of ADHD on TikTok’, written by Wietske de Vries, Laura Batstra en Arjen van Assen (Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences).

Abstract
TikTok has quickly become a popular platform for youth to access and share mental health information. Videos discussing characteristics of diagnoses, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), receive significant engagement. However, concerns have been raised about the spread of misinformation and potential self-diagnosis among viewers of these videos.

To assess the accuracy of the information shared, we conducted a content analysis of 100 popular TikTok videos. Our findings showed that 55 % of the characteristics that youth attributed to ADHD in their videos did not align with the DSM-5-TR criteria of this diagnosis. Investigation of the top comments further suggests that the majority of the viewers (59,6 %) identified with the depicted behaviors and experiences. Moreover, most of the top-commenters accepted or even validated that these traits were part of ADHD, even though this was often not the case.

Our findings illustrate how youth broaden the ADHD concept on TikTok. This bottom-up psychiatrization may affect the self-image of other young people who identify with this content, as they come to understand their own behaviors through a pathological lens. It additionally raises concerns about the already high demand for health care, as individuals may seek help after self-diagnosing. This study highlights the need to make health care providers, educators and parents aware of the misinformation circulating online about ADHD. This would enable them to better support youth and help them to be critical of mental health content they encounter on social media.

We asked corresponding author Wietske de Vries a few questions about the article:

Your research found that 55% of the characteristics that youth attributed to ADHD in their videos did not correspond with the DSM-5-TR criteria of this diagnosis. What motives do youth have for broadening the ADHD-concept like that?
Since this is a relatively new field, further research is needed to fully understand what drives youth to broaden the ADHD concept on TikTok, as several motives could play a role. First, expanding the definition of ADHD can allow youth to self-identify with this classification, without meeting its clinical criteria. This also became evident in the comment section of the videos we assessed, where self-diagnosis was frequently mentioned. Self-diagnosis can offer youth several perceived benefits, such as validation of their struggles and a sense of understanding. Moreover, a diagnosis can provide them with access to an online community consisting of peers experiencing similar issues, which can offer youth a sense of belonging and social support.

Additionally, unclarity surrounding the ADHD concept may also in part explain why youth broaden its definition on TikTok. While the specific criteria of ADHD are listed in the DSM, these criteria have changed multiple times over the years, which may have contributed to confusion about the boundaries of this classification. Moreover, ADHD is often not just seen as a descriptive term, but as a cause which can explain behavior. As a result, youth may attribute a broad range of experiences and behaviors to ADHD, as they are unaware of what the classification is and what it is not. 

Your findings seem very relevant to people outside academia as well, e.g. teachers, parents, clinicians and youth themselves. How are you sharing your findings with these non-academic audiences? Did you consider sharing your results back on TikTok to reach that same audience? 
This topic is currently receiving a lot of media attention and I have already been approached by multiple news outlets to discuss my research, even prior to the publication of my article. These opportunities have allowed me to share my findings with a broader public, which I believe is crucial considering the risks that come with the spread of misinformation about mental health. I have additionally presented my findings at events targeted at clinical professionals and youth, which has also given me valuable insights into their perspective on the issue and the benefits and downsides they may experience from TikTok content. 

I have definitely considered sharing my findings on TikTok as well, as it would be an efficient way to reach the young people who may benefit from hearing these outcomes the most and raise awareness among them about the prevalence of misinformation online and the risks of self-diagnosing. However, research suggests that videos made by professionals often receive limited engagement on this platform, so I’m still looking for ways to make such content attractive to TikTok users, while at the same time also being informative. Perhaps working in collaboration with young content creators could be a way to achieve that, to ensure the messages resonate with this audience. 

What do you think of TikTok's role in this spread of misinformation?
TikTok’s algorithm currently plays a significant role in the spread of misinformation, as it favors content that generates high engagement, including novel, inaccurate videos. Moreover, the algorithm may cause youth to end up in a loop in which they are continuously exposed to similar content. As a result, youth may internalize this content, which may contribute to self-diagnosis. In my opinion, TikTok therefore carries a responsibility to mitigate the impact of this misinformation and increase media literacy among youth. One manageable way to do so could be to place a disclaimer on all videos discussing mental health, that highlights that the presented information may be incorrect and which points to more reliable sources both on- and offline. This may be especially of importance to those experiencing severe issues. Moreover, TikTok could facilitate the spread of accurate information on their platform, for example by working together with researchers and mental health professionals to create reliable educational content and ensuring these videos are highly visible within the algorithm.

How can open science help counter misinformation about mental health online?
Finding reliable information concerning mental health online can be quite challenging, as there is an overwhelming amount of content available across various platforms, which is also frequently contradictory. Open science could help make reliable information more easily accessible and the process in which these findings were obtained more transparent. This allows people to rely less on the information that is shared on platforms such as TikTok, and can help them more critically assess the mental health content that they do engage with. Countering misinformation is especially important in the context of mental health, as the information that people consume can have a large impact on how they perceive and understand themselves and their behavior. Moreover, the misinformation spread online can also have a broader societal impact, for example by influencing the demands for mental health care.  

Could you reflect on your experiences with open access and open science in general?
This was the first article that I have published as part of my PhD. As the university has an agreement with Elsevier, publishing open access in the journal I selected was free, which made the decision to do so an easy one. I find open access publishing important, as it allows everyone who is interested in the topic to engage with my research, which can help to advance the field. Moreover, given that much of my PhD research is practice-oriented, I also want health professionals, teachers and others working in the field to be able to read my articles and use them to inform their daily practice. For my upcoming articles, I will therefore definitely aim to publish open access again, to ensure my research does not remain confined within the academic community. More broadly speaking, I believe open science can help bridge the gap between research and practice, as it not only makes scientific findings more accessible, but can also improve trust in research and researchers in general. I believe this is especially of importance in times where the value of science is sometimes questioned.   

Useful links:
Open access journal browser: search engine that can be used to check if a discount on the article processing charge (APC) is available for a specific journal. UG corresponding authors can publish with an APC discount (mostly 100%, so for free) in more than 12.000 journals!

Citation:
De Vries, W., Batstra, L., & van Assen, A. (2025). Exploring concept creep: Youth’s portrayal of ADHD on TikTok. SSM - Mental Health, 8, Article 100489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100489 

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