Contribution of Family, Behavioral, and Neuropsychological Factors to Long-Term Functional Outcomes in Young Adults with ADHD: A 12-Year Follow-Up Study

Abstract

The persistent nature of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the role of behavioral factors in its continuity have been widely documented in the literature. However, less is known about the role of early family and neuropsychological factors in predicting later adaptive functioning and quality of life in individuals with ADHD. This study aimed to analyze the contribution of early family, behavioral, and neuropsychological factors to long-term functional outcomes in young adults with ADHD. Family (parental mood disorders, family risk index, parenting stress, coherence), behavioral (oppositionism, inattention, emotional lability, hyperactivity), and cognitive factors were examined at baseline. Twelve years later, daily life functioning, quality of life, and executive and behavioral functioning were also evaluated in 61 young adults with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD. Results revealed significant correlations between most of the family and behavioral factors at baseline and the long-term functional outcomes. Specifically, multiple regressions showed that mothers’ depression and laxness predicted later quality of life, executive functioning, and the hyperactivity index, and mothers’ depression and parenting stress at baseline also significantly predicted the hyperactivity index. Oppositionism behavior and inhibition were also significant predictors of the hyperactivity index. Therefore, understanding the family, behavioral, and neuropsychological factors that can contribute to later quality of life, daily functioning, and behavioral and executive functions is a particularly critical issue in detecting and planning efficacious ADHD interventions.

The challenges and coping strategies of single mothers caring for children with special needs: Experiences from Kashmir, India

“…Social support, which includes support from extended family and friends, is considered one of the important coping resources for single mothers having CWSNs. Parents who are optimistic and have support from friends and family are more likely to adopt a problem-focused and active-coping strategy to deal with the challenges of raising a CWSNs (Miranda et al, 2021). Religious faith as a coping strategy has also been perceived as having positive effects in combating stress and enhancing healthy mental health.…”

Assessing the relationship between maternal risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and functional connectivity in their biological toddlers

“…[16] Further, longitudinal work looking at adult outcomes of childhood ADHD have concluded that family, behavioral, and neuropsychological factors not only contribute to later quality of life and success outcomes (i.e., occupational, education attainment, executive functioning) but are areas of research that will be critical for efficacious ADHD interventions in the future. [17] It is possible that treatment outcomes could be improved with a better understanding of the neural underpinnings of ADHD. A better understanding of dysfunctional neural systems may allow for improved and earlier identification of ADHD by providing biomarkers.…”

“…Long-term impairment in childhood ADHD continues into adulthood along domains of psychosocial, educational, and neuropsychological functioning regardless of medication or therapy interventions [16]. Further, longitudinal work looking at adult outcomes of childhood ADHD have concluded that family, behavioral, and neuropsychological factors not only contribute to later quality of life and success outcomes (i.e., occupational, education attainment, executive functioning) but are areas of research that will be critical for efficacious ADHD interventions in the future [17]. It is possible that treatment outcomes could be improved with a better understanding of the neural underpinnings of ADHD.…”

Sustained Change in ADHD: Interventions and Variables That Lead to Durable Improvements in Symptoms and Quality of Life

“…One article shows the effects of an intervention based on perceptual-motor skills' reconstruction to improve the executive functions and key symptoms in ADHD, based on a sample of 50 students (8-10 years) equally distributed in a control and an experimental group, following a pretest-posttest design [18]. Additionally, this Special Issue includes a follow-up study based on a 12-year time lapse, where the main aim is to examine the role of family and behavioral and neuropsychological factors when predicting long-term functional outcomes in young adults with ADHD [19]. Last but not least, the bibliometric review that closes this Special Issue provides evidence on the communication gap that still exists between the scientific fields of Psychiatry/Psychology and Education concerning classroom management of ADHD, that is, between science and practice [20].…”