Parental Support Partially Accounts for the Covariation Between ADHD and Depressive Symptoms in College Students

Abstract

A large body of research has established associations between ADHD and depressive symptoms; however, reasons for their co-occurrence are largely understudied. This study tested a theoretical model in which attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms were hypothesized to associate with depressive symptoms via parental support. Undergraduate students completed self-report measures for this cross sectional study (n = 350; mean age = 19.29; SD = 1.95; 72.3 % female). Significant correlations were found between ADHD symptoms, depressive symptoms, maternal support, and paternal support. Structural equation modeling goodness of fit statistics indicated that a model of partial indirect effects provided a good fit to the data, with maternal support and paternal support partially explaining the covariation between ADHD symptoms and depressive symptoms. College students who experience symptoms of ADHD also tend to experience symptoms of depression, and the association between ADHD symptoms and depression is explained in part by perceived support from parents. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.