The Relationship between ADHD Tendency and Depression among Elementary School Students: The Mediating Effect of Stress and the Moderated Mediating Effect of Parental Warmth

This study examines the mediating role of stress and the moderated mediating effect of parental warmth in the relationship between ADHD tendencies and depression among elementary school students. Data were collected from 1,997 students in the fourth to sixth grades using the Survey on Korean Teenagers' Mental Health Status. Analysis of the data was conducted using SPSS 25 and the Process Macro for SPSS, specifically utilizing models 4 and 14 to test the mediation and moderated mediation effects. The results showed that stress significantly mediated the relationship between ADHD tendencies and depression. Moreover, a moderating effect of parental warmth was found in the relationship between stress and depression in the participants. Finally, the moderated mediating effect of parental warmth proved to be significant, with the mediating effect diminishing as the level of parental warmth rose. This study confirms the direct effect of ADHD tendencies on depression, an indirect effect through stress, and a moderated mediating effect of parental warmth. These findings can provide foundational data for counseling and parent education programs aimed at addressing mental health issues and improving adaptation among elementary school students with high ADHD tendencies.