Loneliness Accounts for the Association Between Diagnosed Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder and Symptoms of Depression Among Adolescents

Abstract

Background: The heightened levels of peer relationship difficulties associated with Attention Deficient/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) potentially predispose adolescents to feelings of loneliness and depressive symptoms. The current study explores whether feelings of loneliness mediate the effects of ADHD on depressive symptoms. Method: Eighty-four adolescents (Mage = 13.01 years, 75% Male) in Western Australian schools completed mental health and wellbeing surveys. Multivariate analysis of variance assessed whether adolescents with ADHD had greater loneliness and depressive symptoms, and mediation analysis explored whether loneliness mediated the relationship between ADHD and depressive symptoms. Results: Adolescents with ADHD reported significantly greater depressive symptomatology and feelings of isolation and lower quality of friendships. Together, friendship and isolation related loneliness fully mediated the relationship between ADHD and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Loneliness is associated with depression in adolescents with ADHD and may be an important consideration when addressing symptoms of depression among young people diagnosed with ADHD.

Loneliness and mental health in children and adolescents with pre‐existing mental health problems: A rapid systematic review

“…Three studies examined cross‐sectional association between loneliness and mental health in children and young people with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; N = 1, Houghton et al., 2020) and ASD ( N = 2, White & Roberson‐Nay, 2009; Chang, Chen, Huang, & Lin, 2019). Loneliness was positively associated with depression severity in young people with ADHD, and participants with ADHD were lonelier than age‐ and gender‐matched controls (Houghton et al., 2020).…”

“…Three studies examined cross‐sectional association between loneliness and mental health in children and young people with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; N = 1, Houghton et al., 2020) and ASD ( N = 2, White & Roberson‐Nay, 2009; Chang, Chen, Huang, & Lin, 2019). Loneliness was positively associated with depression severity in young people with ADHD, and participants with ADHD were lonelier than age‐ and gender‐matched controls (Houghton et al., 2020). For participants with ASD, there were moderate associations between anxiety and loneliness in both younger adolescents aged between 7 and 14 years ( r = .33, White & Roberson‐Nay, 2009) and older adolescents aged between 10 and 19 years ( r = .44, Chang et al., 2019).…”

Social-Emotional Profile of Children with and without Learning Disabilities: The Relationships with Perceived Loneliness, Self-Efficacy and Well-Being

“…Prior research has revealed that individuals with LDs are at higher risk for feelings of loneliness from kindergarten through high school [ 12 ], and, among 716 adolescents with and without LDs, that the severity of the LD predicted stronger feelings of loneliness [ 2 ]. Within a recent study [ 13 ] it was found that adolescents with attention-deficit disorder (ADHD) reported significantly greater feelings of loneliness compared to their non-ADHD peers.…”

Development of the Perth Adolescent Worry Scale (PAWS)

“…Higher scores for friendship related loneliness indicate greater quality of friendships, while higher scores for isolation indicate higher levels of isolation. The scale has shown strong psychometric properties in prior research (Houghton et al, 2014 , 2016 , 2020 ). In the present study, each factor demonstrated acceptable-excellent internal reliability (friendship related loneliness α = 0.90; isolation α = 0.86; positive attitude to solitude α = 0.87; negative attitude to solitude α = 0.79).…”

“…The CDI:SR[S]2 has demonstrated good reliability (α = 0.77-0.85 across different age and gender groups; test–retest estimates from 0.76-0.92: Kovacs, 2004 ), and discriminant and convergent validity with other measures of depression, anxiety, self-competence, self-concept, and locus of control (Doerfler et al, 1988 ). Good internal reliability has been reported in neurologically diverse samples of Australian youth (α = 0.86: Houghton et al, 2020 ). In the present study, the CDI:SR[S]2 had good internal reliability (α = 0.85).…”