Associations between well-being and ADHD/autistic traits in university students.

Background: There has been recent research on the associations between ADHD/autistic traits and well-being. The present study continued this line of inquiry using the Well-being Process approach with a sample of university students. Methods: Three hundred and thirty-five students completed an online survey, which included the Short-Form Well-being Process Questionnaire, the Short-Form Strengths and Difficulties Scale, and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ10) and the ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Results: Many associations were observed in univariate analyses; however, these often became non-significant when the established well-being predictors were covariied. In the multivariate analyses, there was little evidence of associations between the AQ10 and ASRS scores and the well-being outcomes. In contrast, significant associations remained between the AQ10 and ASRS scores and the SDQ outcomes (conduct problems, emotional problems and hyperactivity). Conclusion: The study found no significant relationships between ADHD/autistic traits and well-being when established predictors were controlled for, confirming previous findings. However, the ADHD/autistic trait scores were good predictors of the SDQ outcomes, confirming predictions based on previous research. A longitudinal methodology should now be employed to determine the underlying mechanisms.