Structural relation between depression and anxiety with symptoms of ADHD in adulthood: mediation of emotion regulation and deficit in types of cognitive attention

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which the growth of the central nervous system is impaired.

The purpose of the present study was investigating the structural relation between depression and anxiety with symptoms of adult ADHD, according to the meditative role of emotion regulation and cognitive attention deficit.

This study was a descriptive correlational. The statistical population included all students at Universities of Tehran, Iran in 2019. One hundred and forty-four students of Kharazami University were participated as a sample group via convenience sampling. Instruments include CERQ (2006), BDI (1996), BAI (1988), CAARS (1999), and IVA (1994). Data were evaluated and analyzed with the use of Pearson’s correlation and Structural Equation Model (SEM) by SPSS-23 and LISREL.

Results showed that depression and anxiety symptom have significant direct and indirect relations with an adult ADHD symptom (p<0.05). Also, maladaptive emotion regulation and cognitive attention deficit mediate the relationship between depression and anxiety with adult ADHD symptoms (p<0.05).

Upon findings, depression and anxiety have relations with adult ADHD via mediating roles of emotion regulation and types of attention. Therefore, it could be concluded that deficits in types of cognitive attention and implementation of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, accompanied by depressive and anxiety symptoms, can explain ADHD in adults.