Young people with ADHD symptoms are more likely to experience emotional issues such as anxiety and low mood partly because ADHD puts them at risk of low self-esteem and having a parent with poor mental health.
The study, led by the University of Edinburgh and funded by the Medical Research Foundation, is the first to study a wide range of factors which link ADHD symptoms and mental ill health symptoms over time.
It is estimated that ADHD affects around five per cent of children and young people in the UK. One in four young people with ADHD have an anxiety disorder and 40 per cent experience depressive episodes.
Survey data
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh examined survey data from over 5,000 adolescents aged 11 to 17 from the UK Millennium Cohort Study, which follows young people born between 2000 and 2002 across the UK.
They tested fourteen possible factors linking ADHD and mental ill health, including relationships with family and friends, behaviour issues and low self-esteem.
Linking factors
Other factors assessed were behaviour at school, general health and if their parent had mental health difficulties.
The team analysed questionnaires which surveyed parents and the young people on ADHD symptoms and emotional problems such as low mood and anxiety symptoms at ages 11,14 and 17.
Findings showed that self-esteem and parental mental health had a small but statistically significant link to both ADHD and mental ill health risk. Among girls difficulties with peers had a small but significant link.
Targeted support
This was the case even when other factors such as any pre-existing neurodevelopmental and mental health issues were taken into account.
The results suggest that several different factors may be working collectively with a small effect to connect ADHD and other emotional issues during adolescence.
The study could help in tailoring targeted wellbeing support systems for young people with ADHD, experts say.