Abstract
BackgroundAn increasing number of studies suggest that physical activity can alleviate symptoms of ADHD in children. In adults there are currently insufficient data available on this subject. Interestingly, ADHD and forms of excessive exercising have both been shown to occur more frequently in adult athletes. The aim of the present study was to empirically investigate the association of ADHD and excessive exercising in the adult general population.MethodsFor diagnosis of adult and childhood ADHD a large representative sample of the German general population (n = 1,615) completed a retrospective assessment of childhood ADHD and a self-report assessment of adult ADHD. Excessive exercising as well as putative mediating variables such as eating related psychopathology, depression, and anxiety were assessed using standardized self-rating instruments.ResultsIndividuals with childhood only ADHD had a significantly higher frequency of excessive exercising (9.0%) than individuals without ADHD (2.7%). Excessive exercising was significantly associated with childhood only ADHD compared to no ADHD with an odds ratio of 3.239 even after controlling for socio-demographic variables, BMI, eating related and general psychopathology.ConclusionsOur data show that excessive exercising is significantly overrepresented in individuals in which ADHD symptoms in childhood have not persisted into adulthood. We thus hypothesize that a subgroup of individuals might suppress ADHD symptoms by excessive sporting activities. Although in healthy adults physical activity has been associated with immediate and long term improvements in cognitive functioning, studies empirically investigating associations between the effects of physical activity and adult ADHD are rare. Further studies are warranted to explore the potential role of physical activity in the treatment of ADHD in adults.
Highlights
An increasing number of studies suggest that physical activity can alleviate symptoms of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children
Screening for current depression and anxiety with the PHQ-4 revealed positive results in 5.7% of the sample; 4.6% of the sample screened positive for adult ADHD with a persistence of ADHD-symptoms from childhood into adulthood of 41.6%; 3.1% (n = 51) screened positive for excessive exercising
The prevalence of depression/ anxiety and eating disorders, as well as the distribution of gender, weight, employment, educational, and marital status among noADHD, childhood only ADHD (coADHD) and adult ADHD (aADHD) subgroups are in line with earlier literature reports [11,51,52] (Table 3 and 2)
Summary
An increasing number of studies suggest that physical activity can alleviate symptoms of ADHD in children. ADHD and forms of excessive exercising have both been shown to occur more frequently in adult athletes. The aim of the present study was to empirically investigate the association of ADHD and excessive exercising in the adult general population. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disease, clinically defined by its characteristic core symptoms of inattention, and/or hyperactivity and impulsive behavior [1]. Structural and functional deficits of attention and executive function processing brain networks have been shown in children and adults with ADHD [3,4]. It is estimated that ADHD has a prevalence of 5.3% among children and adolescents and 2-4% in the adult general population [1,8,9]. Likewise eating disorders have been associated with ADHD [11]
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