University of Twente Student Theses
ADHD Experiences in Women: Sentiment, Topic, and Emotion Analysis of Reddit Posts Using a Text Mining Approach
Tiltmann, Viktoria (2025) ADHD Experiences in Women: Sentiment, Topic, and Emotion Analysis of Reddit Posts Using a Text Mining Approach.
|
PDF
4MB |
| Abstract: | Objective: ADHD has often been viewed as a disorder primarily affecting young boys, leading to limited research on women's experiences. This study explores the experiences of women with ADHD as shared on Reddit. Methods: 1,328 posts from the r/adhdwomen subreddit were analyzed using automated text mining techniques in Orange, including LDA topic modelling, VADER sentiment analysis, and Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions analysis. Results: Nine key themes emerged, including diagnosis, medication, symptom management, interpersonal relationships, and daily challenges. The most common topic was Experiences with ADHD Medication, Mental Health, and Symptom Management (17.4%). Posts displayed a mix of highly positive and negative sentiments, with an overall slightly positive sentiment (M = 0.17). The most common emotions were Trust (32.28%) and Joy (27.18%), while negative emotions like Sadness (14.68%) and Fear (6.63%) were also prevalent. Discussion: The process of receiving a diagnosis and treatment showed the most positive sentiment, suggesting that for many women, this might bring relief and self-acceptance. However, the emotional duality in posts suggests that struggles persist alongside these positive experiences. While this study provides insights into the lived experiences of women with ADHD, limitations like potential biases in post-selection should be considered. Making adjustments in research design, such as incorporating data from other subreddits or qualitative analysis of posts, could offer additional insights into the lived experiences of women with ADHD. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/105328 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
Show download statistics for this publication
Show download statistics for this publicationRepository Staff Only: item control page