The indirect effect of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder between problematic media use and aggression among a sample of Lebanese children - a cross-sectional study

This study aims to explore the potential indirect role of ADHD symptoms, specifically inattention and impulsivity, in the relationship between problematic media use and aggression in Lebanese children. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a snowball sampling technique to recruit 892 parents of children aged between 6 and 12 years, from various Lebanese regions. The mean age of participants was M = 37.22, SD = 8.11; 77.9% were mothers, and 92.7% were married. The results revealed that higher levels of PMU were significantly associated with greater impulsivity (β = 0.37, p < .001) and inattention (β = 0.27, p < 0.001). In turn, impulsivity was positively associated with reactive aggression (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) and proactive aggression (β = 0.24, p < 0.001), while inattention was associated with both reactive (β = 0.39, p < .001) and proactive aggression (β = 0.31, p < .001). In addition, direct effects were observed between PMU and aggression: higher PMU was directly associated with both reactive aggression (β = 0.05, p < .001) and proactive aggression (β = 0.04, p < .001). The findings underscore the need for parental guidance and educational interventions that promote healthy media habits and teach emotional regulation strategies to children, particularly those with ADHD, in order to reduce the risk of aggression.