An Examination of Differences Associated with Age of Diagnosis in Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive behaviors that are impairing, developmentally inappropriate, and often unrelenting. Researchers and clinicians have mixed views regarding ADHD’s age of onset criterion. ADHD symptoms, symptoms of oft-comorbid conditions, academic achievement and adjustment, self-perception, and risky behavior of college students with pre-existing ADHD diagnoses were assessed through a series of questionnaires. Data were examined to assess the predictive power of several independent variables on such outcomes including (a) gender, (b) age of diagnosis (AOD), severity of (c) childhood inattentive (IA) and (d) hyperactive-impulsive (HI) symptoms, as well as (e) AOD x childhood IA, (f) AOD x childhood HI, and (g) AOD x gender interactions, using hierarchical multiple regression models. Separate regressions were run on each dependent variable: (a) depression, (b) anxiety, (c) stress, (d) oppositional defiant symptoms, (e) self-esteem, (f) academic achievement, (g) academic adjustment, (h) college alcohol problems, and (i) risky sexual behavior. Overall, results indicated AOD for ADHD does not meaningfully, independently predict negative outcomes along these lines in college students; however, a few specific outcomes appeared to have some association with AOD that merits further consideration. Explanations for lack of significant findings, limitations and future directions are explored