Pathways From ADHD Symptoms to Suicidal Ideation During College Years: A Longitudinal Study on the i-Share Cohort

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the association between ADHD symptoms and suicidal ideation in college students, and to test mediation by depressive symptoms or self-esteem. Method: Based on the i-Share cohort (prospective cohort of 2,331 college students in France). Self-reported measures included ADHD symptoms at baseline, self-esteem and depressive symptoms at 3 months, and suicidal ideation at 1-year follow-up. We conducted path analysis to estimate total, direct, and indirect effect. Results: Participants with high ADHD symptoms were more likely to report suicidal ideation 1 year later (p < .0001). Indirect effects through depressive symptoms (p < .0001) and self-esteem (p < .0001) explained 44% and 25% of this association, respectively. An indirect pathway via a combination of self-esteem, then depressive symptoms, was also identified (p < .0001), explaining 19% of the total effect. The direct effect was not significant (p = .524). Conclusion: ADHD symptoms seem to have no direct but indirect effect through both self-esteem and depressive symptoms on suicidal ideation.