A Network Approach to the Association Between Emotional Regulation and ADHD Symptoms in Adults: Pathways between Difficulties in Emotional Regulation and ADHD Dimensions

Investigating the associations between emotional regulation difficulties and ADHD dimensions, this study employs network analysis to examine the interrelations among emotional regulation dimensions (as measured by the Emotional Regulation Strategies-36; DERS-36), affect lability (assessed using the Affect Lability Scale-18; ALS-18) and ADHD dimensions (Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity, based on the Current Symptom Scale; CSS). Reflecting on the complexity of ADHD, this research contributes to the emerging discourse on the potential inclusion of emotional regulation difficulties within the ADHD diagnostic criteria, particularly in adult populations. A total of 532 adults [n man = 144; women = 388; mean age (SD) = 32.98 years (12.97 years)] from the general community were assessed. The network findings showed that the two highest values for strength centrality were DERS-36 strategies and ALS-18 depression. Within the DERS-36, ALS-18, and ADHD dimensions, 33%, 100%, and 11.11% of edges, respectively, were non-zero after regularisation, indicating significant connections, especially with Inattention. For edges involving the ADHD dimensions, only ALS-18 depression and DERS-36 goal showed non-zero unique associations with IA. This study is the first to examine DERS-36 and ALS-18 subdimensions alongside the three ADHD dimensions within a regularised partial correlation network. The results indicate that only a small number of emotion-related dimensions show direct associations with ADHD dimensions, suggesting selective rather than widespread associations among these constructs.