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Parental Support Partially Accounts for the Covariation Between ADHD and Depressive Symptoms in College Students

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Abstract

A large body of research has established associations between ADHD and depressive symptoms; however, reasons for their co-occurrence are largely understudied. This study tested a theoretical model in which attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms were hypothesized to associate with depressive symptoms via parental support. Undergraduate students completed self-report measures for this cross sectional study (n = 350; mean age = 19.29; SD = 1.95; 72.3 % female). Significant correlations were found between ADHD symptoms, depressive symptoms, maternal support, and paternal support. Structural equation modeling goodness of fit statistics indicated that a model of partial indirect effects provided a good fit to the data, with maternal support and paternal support partially explaining the covariation between ADHD symptoms and depressive symptoms. College students who experience symptoms of ADHD also tend to experience symptoms of depression, and the association between ADHD symptoms and depression is explained in part by perceived support from parents. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

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Notes

  1. When participants were dichotomized into ADHD vs. non ADHD groups based on clinical cut-offs, t-tests revealed those in the ADHD group had significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms and significantly lower levels of maternal and paternal support. Similarly, when participants were dichotomized into depressed vs. non depressed groups, t-tests revealed those in the depressed group had significantly higher levels of ADHD symptoms and significantly lower levels of maternal and paternal support.

  2. Measurement model for maternal and paternal variables yielded a good fit to the data when unique variances for corresponding maternal and paternal support subscales were correlated. Model fit indices include χ 2 = 1.18, p = .95; RMSEA <0.001; PCLOSE =0.99; CFI =1.00; TLI =1.01; SRMR =0.01.

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Conflict of Interest

Michael C. Meinzer declares no conflict of interest to disclose, Ryan M. Hill declares no conflict of interest to disclose, Jeremy W. Pettit declares no conflict of interest to disclose, Kristin A. Nichols-Lopez declares no conflict of interest to disclose.

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The protocol for the current study was approved by the Florida International University Institutional Review Board.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Michael C. Meinzer, Ryan M. Hill, Jeremy W. Pettit & Kristin A. Nichols-Lopez

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Meinzer, M.C., Hill, R.M., Pettit, J.W. et al. Parental Support Partially Accounts for the Covariation Between ADHD and Depressive Symptoms in College Students. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 37, 247–255 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-014-9449-7

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