Examining the Dimensionality of ADHD Symptomatology in Young Adults Using Factor Analysis and Outcome Prediction

Objective: Current diagnostic criteria specify that ADHD involves difficulties with inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Researchers using factor analysis have consistently found support for an inattention factor in both children and adults. Findings have been mixed regarding whether hypera...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of attention disorders 2012-07, Vol.16 (5), p.427-437
Main Author: McKee, Tara E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Achievement
Adolescent
Attention
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Children
Clinical Diagnosis
College Students
Conceptual Tempo
Data processing
Depression - diagnosis
Depression - psychology
Educational Status
Factor Analysis
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Humans
Hyperactivity
impulsive behavior
Impulsive Behavior - diagnosis
Impulsive Behavior - psychology
Inhibition
Male
Prediction
Self Report
Social behavior
Students - psychology
Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
Young Adult
Young Adults
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Summary:Objective: Current diagnostic criteria specify that ADHD involves difficulties with inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Researchers using factor analysis have consistently found support for an inattention factor in both children and adults. Findings have been mixed regarding whether hyperactivity and impulsivity reflect one or two dimensions. To date, no study has examined the merits of separating hyperactivity and impulsivity factors to predict socioemotional and academic outcomes in young adults. Method: The current study examined self-reported ADHD symptomatology data from 1,096 college students. Subsets of the sample completed a variety of outcome measures. Results: The prediction of outcomes provided support that complemented confirmatory factor analysis for the separation of the hyperactivity and impulsivity constructs. Impulsivity uniquely predicted more outcomes than hyperactivity alone. Conclusion: Results were consistent with the conceptualization of ADHD as primarily a disorder of behavioral inhibition. Future research using alternative outcomes and clinical populations should be conducted.
ISSN:1087-0547
1557-1246
DOI:10.1177/1087054710396039