Date of Award

Spring 5-19-2024

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Major

Psychology

First Advisor

Laura Holt, Ph.D.

Abstract

This study examined how resilience moderated the association between ADHD symptom severity and general Quality of Life (QoL) in emerging adults. Using data from an anonymous online survey distributed at six US colleges/universities, participants (N=4396; 73% female-identifying; 72% White) reported on ADHD symptomatology and their diagnostic status; resilience; perceived QoL; and satisfaction with pharmacological and behavioral treatment for ADHD (if diagnosed). As hypothesized, overall ADHD severity was inversely associated with the different facets of QoL (rs = -.18 to -.29). However, contrary to our hypothesis, inattentive symptoms showed larger inverse associations with QoL compared to hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. There was a significant interaction between ADHD severity and resilience on QoL (p < .001), with moderation analyses indicating that the inverse association between ADHD symptom severity and QoL was weaker among participants reporting higher family coherence, one of the four types of resilience examined. Resilience did not moderate the association between ADHD symptom severity and treatment outcome satisfaction; however, resilience did predict treatment satisfaction directly (B = 0.2578, SE = 0.0722, t = 3.5726, p < .001). Ultimately, these results support QoL being inversely associated with ADHD severity, resilience moderating this association, and underscores the protective role of familial cohesion in buffering the negative impact of ADHD symptoms on QoL.

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