ADHD Symptoms as a Stressor Leading to Depressive Symptoms among University Students: The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress between ADHD and Depression

Aida Sahmurova, Selma Arikan, Mustafa Can Gursesli and Mirko Duradoni ()
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Aida Sahmurova: Faculty of Health Sciences, Antalya Bilim University, Antalya 07190, Turkey
Selma Arikan: Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Psychology, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul 34700, Turkey
Mustafa Can Gursesli: Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy
Mirko Duradoni: Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, 50135 Florence, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-12

Abstract: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition manifested in childhood and includes symptoms, such as attention deficit, impulsivity, difficulty in concentrating, hyperactivity, and aggressive behavior. Along with the negative effects of ADHD symptoms on individuals, various psychological factors are thought to be associated with these symptoms. However, ADHD in emerging adulthood is not rare and can be conceived as the continuation of discomfort that might emerge during childhood and adolescence. Our mediation study involved 613 undergraduate students in İstanbul. The participants filled out demographic information forms: Adult Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Reported Scale (ASRS), Perceived Stress Scale and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Our work stressed those positive correlations found among ASRS, Perceived Stress Scale, and BDI scores. Analysis by Model 4 of Hayes Process Macro and Sobel tests showed that ADHD symptoms predicted both perceived stress and depression scores of the participants and dimensions of perceived stress acted as partial mediators in the positive relationship between ADHD and depression scores.

Keywords: Adult Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder; perceived stress; depression; university students; mediating variable (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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