The relationship between ADHD and creativity in childhood and adolescence—A systematic review

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents is a common behavioral disorder. Recent approaches within positive psychology focus not only on deficits in behavioral regulation and organization but also on strengths associated with these characteristics, such as energy, originality and creativity. Research on the relationship between ADHD and creativity has produced inconsistent findings. This article provides a systematic narrative review of studies examining the association between ADHD and creativity in children and adolescents. It also explores which individual characteristics moderate this relationship and how different operationalizations and measurement approaches influence the findings. Using the PICOS framework, nine databases and Google Scholar were searched in August 2026 for German- and English-language studies published between 2000 and 2025. Eligible studies included children and adolescents with ADHD or ADHD symptoms and reported on creativity. 15 studies including a total of 1168 participants met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the findings do not yield a uniform picture of the relationship between ADHD and creativity. However, some studies point to a potentially positive association, particularly in samples with subclinical ADHD manifestations, with significant effects in studies that assessed divergent thinking. The review suggests that inconsistent findings may be due to differences in the conceptualization of creativity and severity of ADHD symptoms. Future research should investigate these moderating factors and consider additional variables shaping the relationship between ADHD and creativity.