The Relationship between ADHD Symptoms and Big Five Personality in University Students

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often diagnosed in childhood but persists into adulthood in many cases. This disorder, which is defined by the core symptoms of inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI), is also associated with impairment in academic settings, interpersonal relationships, and behavioural risk taking. This study examined the relationship between ADHD symptoms and basic personality in a sample of university students (123 men and 252 women). Participants were selected by multistage sampling from Golestan Payam Noor University and completed the DSM-IV ADHD Scales from the Conner's Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) as well as the Five Factor Inventory (FFI). This research is correlational study. Results showed that there are significant positive relationship between Neuroticism and inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, ADHD, ADHD index and negative relationship find between Extraversion with inattention, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness and Openness to experience with inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, ADHD, ADHD index. t-tests showed that are gender difference between men and women in ADHD in few aspects. The results of the present work are in line with previous evidence of a significant correlation between ADHD and some personality traits in university students.