Emotional dysregulation and health related quality of life in young adults with ADHD: a cross sectional study

Maayan Ben-Dor Cohen; Eran Eldar; Adina Maeir; Mor Nahum

doi:10.1186/s12955-021-01904-8

Emotional dysregulation and health related quality of life in young adults with ADHD: a cross sectional study

Maayan Ben-Dor Cohen^*, Eran Eldar, Adina Maeir, Mor Nahum

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with emotional dysregulation (ED) and impaired health related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the role of ED in explaining the relationship between ADHD and HRQoL is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to do so in a sample of non-referred young adults with and without ADHD. Method: The study design was cross-sectional. A non-clinical sample of 63 young adults with ADHD (mean age = 24.86 years, SD = 3.25, 78% university students) and 69 gender-matched controls (mean age = 23.84 years, SD = 2.59, 89% university students) were recruited. The Adult ADHD Quality-of-Life scale was used to measure HRQoL; The Self-Report Wender–Reimherr Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Scale and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale were used to measure ED. Group differences on all measures were tested using univariate and multivariate analyses of covariance, while controlling for age. Finally, a moderation analysis was used in order to examine the impact of ED on HRQoL beyond that accounted for by ADHD symptoms. Results: Both HRQoL and ED were significantly worse for the ADHD group compared to the control group. The medication status of the ADHD group participants had no significant effect on the level of ADHD symptoms, ED or HRQoL. ED moderated the effect of ADHD symptoms on HRQoL for the ADHD group. Conclusion: The findings support the centrality of ED in ADHD and its crucial influence on HRQoL. Young adults with ADHD and high levels of ED are at risk for aversive impact on their well-being regardless of their ADHD symptoms level.

Original language	American English
Article number	270
Journal	Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Volume	19
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-021-01904-8
State	Published - 20 Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Mor Slomi for her help with data analysis. We also thank Shahar Vitenberg, Einav BenDor, Michal Glikin, Mirit Amar, Nili Sarusi, Shahar Yehuda, Noam Shalom, Avital Shpitzer and Dr. Ruthie Traub Bar-Ilan for their help with data collection. This research was partially funded by a grant from the National Institute of Psychobiology Israel (NIPI).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).

Keywords

ADHD
Emotion dysregulation
Health related quality of life
Young adults

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1186/s12955-021-01904-8

Cite this

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title = "Emotional dysregulation and health related quality of life in young adults with ADHD: a cross sectional study",

abstract = "Objective: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with emotional dysregulation (ED) and impaired health related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the role of ED in explaining the relationship between ADHD and HRQoL is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to do so in a sample of non-referred young adults with and without ADHD. Method: The study design was cross-sectional. A non-clinical sample of 63 young adults with ADHD (mean age = 24.86 years, SD = 3.25, 78% university students) and 69 gender-matched controls (mean age = 23.84 years, SD = 2.59, 89% university students) were recruited. The Adult ADHD Quality-of-Life scale was used to measure HRQoL; The Self-Report Wender–Reimherr Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Scale and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale were used to measure ED. Group differences on all measures were tested using univariate and multivariate analyses of covariance, while controlling for age. Finally, a moderation analysis was used in order to examine the impact of ED on HRQoL beyond that accounted for by ADHD symptoms. Results: Both HRQoL and ED were significantly worse for the ADHD group compared to the control group. The medication status of the ADHD group participants had no significant effect on the level of ADHD symptoms, ED or HRQoL. ED moderated the effect of ADHD symptoms on HRQoL for the ADHD group. Conclusion: The findings support the centrality of ED in ADHD and its crucial influence on HRQoL. Young adults with ADHD and high levels of ED are at risk for aversive impact on their well-being regardless of their ADHD symptoms level.",

keywords = "ADHD, Emotion dysregulation, Health related quality of life, Young adults",

author = "{Ben-Dor Cohen}, Maayan and Eran Eldar and Adina Maeir and Mor Nahum",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Mor Slomi for her help with data analysis. We also thank Shahar Vitenberg, Einav BenDor, Michal Glikin, Mirit Amar, Nili Sarusi, Shahar Yehuda, Noam Shalom, Avital Shpitzer and Dr. Ruthie Traub Bar-Ilan for their help with data collection. This research was partially funded by a grant from the National Institute of Psychobiology Israel (NIPI). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s).",

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doi = "10.1186/s12955-021-01904-8",

language = "American English",

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T2 - a cross sectional study

AU - Ben-Dor Cohen, Maayan

AU - Eldar, Eran

AU - Maeir, Adina

AU - Nahum, Mor

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Mor Slomi for her help with data analysis. We also thank Shahar Vitenberg, Einav BenDor, Michal Glikin, Mirit Amar, Nili Sarusi, Shahar Yehuda, Noam Shalom, Avital Shpitzer and Dr. Ruthie Traub Bar-Ilan for their help with data collection. This research was partially funded by a grant from the National Institute of Psychobiology Israel (NIPI). Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).

PY - 2021/12/20

Y1 - 2021/12/20

N2 - Objective: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with emotional dysregulation (ED) and impaired health related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the role of ED in explaining the relationship between ADHD and HRQoL is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to do so in a sample of non-referred young adults with and without ADHD. Method: The study design was cross-sectional. A non-clinical sample of 63 young adults with ADHD (mean age = 24.86 years, SD = 3.25, 78% university students) and 69 gender-matched controls (mean age = 23.84 years, SD = 2.59, 89% university students) were recruited. The Adult ADHD Quality-of-Life scale was used to measure HRQoL; The Self-Report Wender–Reimherr Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Scale and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale were used to measure ED. Group differences on all measures were tested using univariate and multivariate analyses of covariance, while controlling for age. Finally, a moderation analysis was used in order to examine the impact of ED on HRQoL beyond that accounted for by ADHD symptoms. Results: Both HRQoL and ED were significantly worse for the ADHD group compared to the control group. The medication status of the ADHD group participants had no significant effect on the level of ADHD symptoms, ED or HRQoL. ED moderated the effect of ADHD symptoms on HRQoL for the ADHD group. Conclusion: The findings support the centrality of ED in ADHD and its crucial influence on HRQoL. Young adults with ADHD and high levels of ED are at risk for aversive impact on their well-being regardless of their ADHD symptoms level.

AB - Objective: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with emotional dysregulation (ED) and impaired health related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the role of ED in explaining the relationship between ADHD and HRQoL is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to do so in a sample of non-referred young adults with and without ADHD. Method: The study design was cross-sectional. A non-clinical sample of 63 young adults with ADHD (mean age = 24.86 years, SD = 3.25, 78% university students) and 69 gender-matched controls (mean age = 23.84 years, SD = 2.59, 89% university students) were recruited. The Adult ADHD Quality-of-Life scale was used to measure HRQoL; The Self-Report Wender–Reimherr Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Scale and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale were used to measure ED. Group differences on all measures were tested using univariate and multivariate analyses of covariance, while controlling for age. Finally, a moderation analysis was used in order to examine the impact of ED on HRQoL beyond that accounted for by ADHD symptoms. Results: Both HRQoL and ED were significantly worse for the ADHD group compared to the control group. The medication status of the ADHD group participants had no significant effect on the level of ADHD symptoms, ED or HRQoL. ED moderated the effect of ADHD symptoms on HRQoL for the ADHD group. Conclusion: The findings support the centrality of ED in ADHD and its crucial influence on HRQoL. Young adults with ADHD and high levels of ED are at risk for aversive impact on their well-being regardless of their ADHD symptoms level.

KW - ADHD

KW - Emotion dysregulation

KW - Health related quality of life

KW - Young adults

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U2 - 10.1186/s12955-021-01904-8

DO - 10.1186/s12955-021-01904-8

M3 - Article

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AN - SCOPUS:85121431533

SN - 1477-7525

VL - 19

JO - Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

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IS - 1

M1 - 270

ER -

Emotional dysregulation and health related quality of life in young adults with ADHD: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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