Comparing emotional disturbances (anxiety, stress and depression) and quality of life in couples with ADHD and normal couples

Definitive diagnosis of Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) in adults is challenging because many of the symptoms of ADHD overlap with other disorders and little research has been done on ADHD couples. Therefore, the present study was conducted to compare emotional disturbances (anxiety, stress and depression) and quality of life in couples with ADHD and normal couples.

In this causal-comparative study, out of all ADHD and normal couples in Mashhad, 87 cases were selected. Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale-IV (BAARS-IV) was used for diagnosis of ADHD along with clinical interview. The participants fulfilled Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), and Marital Relationship Quality Scale (RDAS). Data were analyzed by SPSS software and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).

Emotional disturbances (anxiety, stress and depression) showed a significant difference between the two groups. In other words, the levels of anxiety, depression and stress in ADHD couples were higher compared to normal couples (p < 0.001). But regarding the quality of the life and relationship and its components (marital agreement, marital satisfaction, marital cohesion), there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).  

This study showed that couples with ADHD suffer from emotional disturbances (anxiety, stress and depression) more than the normal couples.