Abstract
Objectives
Transition into adulthood is a risky period for young people with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but empirical studies on this topic are scarce. This study investigated the association between the level of ADHD symptoms and transition into adulthood.
Methods
Data were collected in the Cohort Study of Substance Use and Risk Factors among a representative sample of young Swiss men (n = 4681) over three waves. Measures included the level of ADHD symptoms and emerging adulthood assessed with the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood and indicators of successful transition into adulthood.
Results
The level of ADHD symptoms was associated with a lower success in the transition into adulthood. Young people with high level of ADHD symptoms had a reduced increase in indicators of successful transition over time. Inattention symptoms were more strongly associated with emerging adulthood measures in comparison with hyperactive symptoms.
Conclusions
The level of ADHD symptoms may delay the transition into adulthood, especially inattentive symptoms. Providing tailored interventions to emerging adults with ADHD symptoms may decrease the substantial impairments adults with ADHD experience in life.
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Funding
The C-SURF study was granted by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Project No. 148493).
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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This article is part of the special issue “Adolescent transitions”.
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Baggio, S., Studer, J., Fructuoso, A. et al. Does level of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder symptoms predicts poor transition into adulthood?. Int J Public Health 64, 165–172 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-1147-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-1147-x