ADHD Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life of Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract

Background: Adolescence and young adulthood present particularly challenging periods for individuals affected by attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. However, unlike childhood ADHD, ADHD among adolescents and young adults has been studied less frequently. A concept that can be used to characterize the experiences of individuals with ADHD symptoms is health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which encompasses well-being in various dimensions. Aims: The present study used a school-based sample in the German-speaking part of Switzerland to investigate the association between ADHD symptoms and HRQoL of adolescents and young adults. Method: A total of 907 individuals aged 14-24 years (M = 17.69; SD = 1.66; 58.9% female) were surveyed regarding ADHD symptoms and HRQoL. Results: Multiple hierarchical regression analyses disclosed that ADHD symptoms were negatively related to all subdimensions of HRQoL. Moreover, adolescents with clinically significant or subclinical ADHD symptoms showed lower values in all examined dimensions - physical, emotional, self-esteem, family, friends/peers, and school/education - than adolescents with unremarkable ADHD symptoms. An exception was the well-being concerning friends/peers. Limitations: The present study used a cross-sectional design and a selective sample of school classes. ADHD symptoms were assessed using self-reports without any diagnostic judgment. Conclusion: The results illustrate the comprehensive effects of ADHD symptoms on well-being during adolescence and young adulthood. They highlight the importance of focusing more on ADHD during these stages of age, also considering individuals with symptoms in the subclinical range.