A – 32 Functional impairments mediate the relation between ADHD symptoms and depressive symptoms in emerging adults

Abstract Objective This study seeks to explore the mediating role of the different subscales (e.g., family, work, school, life skills, self-concept, social, and risk) of the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale – Self-Report (WFIRS-S) in the relationship between Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depressive symptoms in college students. Method A sample of 876 college-aged students from 18-25 years old (M = 19.27, SD = 1.34) completed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1; Kessler et al., 2005) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D Scale; Radloff, 1977). Participants also completed the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale – Self-Report (WFIRS-S; Weiss, 2000), which assesses impairment in individuals with ADHD. Participants were recruited via a southern public university's SONA Psychology Research Program (PRP). Results Mediation analyses conducted in PROCESS model 4 based on 5,000 bootstrapped samples and 95% confidence intervals demonstrated a significant indirect effect of ASRS total score on depressive symptoms through each of the seven impairment subscales of the WFIRS-S (e.g., self-concept, (B = 0.78, SE = 0.06, 95% CI [0.67, 0.90]), life skills (B = 0.69, SE = 0.06, 95% CI [0.58, 0.81]), school (B = 0.44, SE = 0.05, 95% CI [0.35, 0.54]), social (B = 0.41, SE = 0.04, 95% CI [0.33, 0.50]), and family (B = 0.32, SE = 0.04, 95% CI [0.24, 0.40]). Conclusion These findings reveal that depressive symptoms are worse in emerging adults with ADHD symptoms when functional impairments are high. Neuropsychologists should assess for depressive symptoms when emerging adults report both ADHD symptoms and functional impairments.