"Adults without neurodevelopmental disorders claim highest levels of emotional health and contentment"
A groundbreaking study published in Frontiers in Psychology has shed light on emotional wellbeing across various neurodivergent populations, using an innovative image-based assessment tool called AgileBrain. This tool compares emotional wellbeing among neurodivergent groups, such as those with ADHD, OCD, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to neurotypical adults.
The AgileBrain assessment employs a rapid, non-verbal image selection method that captures intuitive emotional reactions, minimising the verbal demands often challenging for neurodivergent individuals who struggle with traditional, language-heavy mental health questionnaires.
The study, involving over 1,000 U.S. adults, including 351 who self-reported neurodivergent diagnoses, assessed emotional wellbeing by presenting curated images representing various emotional states. Participants quickly selected images they related to, reflecting their emotional needs across 12 dimensions, such as safety, autonomy, inclusion, and purpose.
Key findings revealed that neurotypical adults consistently reported the highest emotional wellbeing, while neurodivergent groups, including those with ADHD, OCD, and ASD, showed significantly lower emotional wellbeing, characterised by higher emotional activation and more negative emotional need profiles. These differences highlight how neurodivergent individuals may experience more unmet emotional needs, leading to greater emotional distress.
AgileBrain's approach has demonstrated construct validity and strong correlations with established clinical measures of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, validating its effectiveness across these populations.
Individuals with autism, despite potential struggles with emotional regulation, were found to have both positive and negative emotional needs, indicating their capacity for deeply positive emotional experiences when supported appropriately. On the other hand, participants with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder showed the most concerning emotional profiles, with a focus on negative emotional needs and elevated emotional activation, resulting in the lowest wellbeing index.
The study's authors emphasise the importance of considering specific unmet emotional needs to gain a more nuanced understanding of mental health beyond diagnostic labels. They also caution that the study's cross-sectional design only provides a snapshot in time, and longitudinal research is needed to understand emotional wellbeing fluctuations over extended periods.
AgileBrain could be useful for employers to monitor emotional wellbeing across teams and identify employees who may require additional support. Its image-based approach is beneficial for those who find verbal questionnaires difficult or exhausting, such as people with ADHD, autism, or trauma histories.
Shifting the focus from symptom checklists to a broader view of human motivation and emotional fulfillment may provide deeper insights into supporting mental health across diverse populations. The findings suggest that emotional wellbeing assessments grounded in unmet needs could become a valuable supplement to traditional diagnostic tools.
References: Pincus, J. D., & Beller, K. (2025). Emotional wellbeing in neurodivergent populations. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1606232. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1606232
- The AgileBrain study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, uses an innovative tool to compare mental health across neurodivergent populations, such as ADHD, OCD, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- The study, involving over 1,000 participants, assesses emotional wellbeing by employing a rapid, non-verbal image selection method, minimizing challenges for neurodivergent individuals in traditional mental health questionnaires.
- Key findings reveal that neurotypical adults generally have higher emotional wellbeing, while neurodivergent groups, including those with ADHD, OCD, and ASD, report lower emotional wellbeing, characterized by higher emotional activation and more negative emotional need profiles.
- AgileBrain has demonstrated construct validity and strong correlations with established clinical measures of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, emphasizing its effectiveness across diverse populations.
- The study proposes that there is a need to consider specific unmet emotional needs to gain a more nuanced understanding of mental health beyond diagnostic labels.
- AgileBrain could potentially be beneficial in the workplace-wellness setting, offering a means to monitor emotional wellbeing and identify employees who may require additional support.
- The approach of focusing on unmet emotional needs could become a valuable supplement to traditional diagnostic tools, providing deeper insights into supporting mental health across diverse populations.
- The research in health-and-wellness sector suggests that emotional wellbeing assessments grounded in unmet needs could play a significant role in supporting mental health, contributing to science-based mental health research.
