Contribution of Family, Behavioral, and Neuropsychological Factors to Long-Term Functional Outcomes in Young Adults with ADHD: A 12-Year Follow-Up Study

Ana Miranda, Carmen Berenguer, Belen Rosello, José Martínez-Raga and Fernando Mulas
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Ana Miranda: Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Carmen Berenguer: Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Belen Rosello: Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
José Martínez-Raga: Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Fernando Mulas: Instituto Valenciano Neurología Pediátrica (INVANEP), 46010 Valencia, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: The persistent nature of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the role of behavioral factors in its continuity have been widely documented in the literature. However, less is known about the role of early family and neuropsychological factors in predicting later adaptive functioning and quality of life in individuals with ADHD. This study aimed to analyze the contribution of early family, behavioral, and neuropsychological factors to long-term functional outcomes in young adults with ADHD. Family (parental mood disorders, family risk index, parenting stress, coherence), behavioral (oppositionism, inattention, emotional lability, hyperactivity), and cognitive factors were examined at baseline. Twelve years later, daily life functioning, quality of life, and executive and behavioral functioning were also evaluated in 61 young adults with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD. Results revealed significant correlations between most of the family and behavioral factors at baseline and the long-term functional outcomes. Specifically, multiple regressions showed that mothers’ depression and laxness predicted later quality of life, executive functioning, and the hyperactivity index, and mothers’ depression and parenting stress at baseline also significantly predicted the hyperactivity index. Oppositionism behavior and inhibition were also significant predictors of the hyperactivity index. Therefore, understanding the family, behavioral, and neuropsychological factors that can contribute to later quality of life, daily functioning, and behavioral and executive functions is a particularly critical issue in detecting and planning efficacious ADHD interventions.

Keywords: ADHD; family; behavior; neuropsychological factors; quality of life; daily functioning; executive functions; follow-up study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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