New Insights into Friendship Patterns Among Neurodivergent Individuals

Recent research conducted by Abertay University offers comprehensive insights into how neurodivergent (ND) individuals form and maintain friendships. The study emphasizes a notable tendency for ND people to build stronger connections with others who share their neurotype. The findings reveal that individuals with autism, ADHD, or other neurodivergent conditions often have more friends within their own neurotype, with autistic participants reporting especially high numbers of autistic friends.

The study, published in Neurodiversity, is one of the first large-scale efforts to objectively analyze how neurodiverse people experience friendship networks and why these connections are significant. Traditionally, assumptions suggested that ND individuals naturally gravitate toward one another, but concrete evidence was limited. This research clarifies that shared neurotypes influence friendship patterns and that ND individuals often have a different but equally meaningful way of connecting.

Personal accounts from over 170 participants shed light on both the challenges and benefits of neurotype-based friendships. Many highlighted the ease of communication, mutual understanding, and a sense of emotional safety within ND–ND friendships. Conversely, cross-neurotype relationships sometimes pose communication challenges, but also unique opportunities for growth.

Dr. Rebecca Sharman, the lead researcher, suggests that ND friendships function almost as a distinct cultural practice, with their own norms, communication styles, and emotional dynamics. She emphasizes that these relationships are valid and enriching, challenging the long-held belief that ND individuals are less interested in or capable of making friends. Instead, her findings show that ND friendships are successful, meaningful, and deserve recognition.

This research underscores the importance of understanding friendship as a diverse and multifaceted aspect of social life, particularly in the context of neurodiversity. Recognizing and celebrating these unique connection patterns can foster greater inclusion and appreciation for different ways of relating.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-highlights-neurodivergent-friendship-patterns.html