| Abstract [eng] |
The symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in young adults may be associated with a broader spectrum of psychological difficulties. This correlational study aimed to examine the expression and associations of depressive symptoms, anxiety, hopelessness, life satisfaction and ADHD symptoms. The study included 271 participants who were divided into three groups: those with ADHD; those with self-suspected ADHD and those without ADHD. Participants were aged 18–29 years (M = 22.53; SD = 3.08); 57.2% were women, 38% were men, and 4.8% reported another gender or did not disclose their gender. Data were collected using a survey that included the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), ASRS-v1.1 for ADHD symptoms, a life satisfaction question, and sociodemographic questions. The results showed that participants with ADHD and self-suspected ADHD had higher depressive symptoms than participants without ADHD. Associations of ADHD symptoms with depressive symptoms and anxiety were found only in the self-suspected ADHD group. Depressive symptoms and anxiety were predicted by lower life satisfaction, greater ADHD symptom severity, younger age, and being female. Depressive symptoms were the main mediating factor explaining the association between ADHD symptomatology and life satisfaction, whereas the moderating role of ADHD symptoms was not found. These findings highlight the importance of assessing depressive symptoms when working with young adults with ADHD or self-suspected ADHD. |
