This study looked at 64 children who had a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD. They were aged 8 to 12 years (average about 10), and most were boys (84%). The researchers split the children into two groups, a higher social-skills group and a lower social-skills group, using the middle score on a social-skills rating as the dividing line.
The children with higher social skills reported more overall resilience than the children with lower social skills, and the gap was large (about 41% of the difference between groups was tied to social-skills level). The higher-skills group also felt more connected to other people, which was the strongest single difference. They rated their own behavior more positively as well. And they reported more prosocial attitudes, meaning more willingness to help and get along with others. All of these differences were statistically clear.
The authors point to several limits. There was no comparison group of children without ADHD, so the results only describe children who have it. The answers came from the children themselves, who may report their strengths too favorably. The two groups were made by splitting at the middle score, and the study did not account for age or gender.
Source: Tasmia Hai, Emma A. Climie. Positive Child Personality Factors in Children with ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders (2021). doi:10.1177/1087054721997562