Impact of fear of coronavirus disease 2019 on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder traits associated with depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and low self-esteem in university students: a cross-sectional study with mediation analysis.

Tomoko SUZUKI; Toshiyuki OHTANI; Michiko NAKAZATO; Ariuntuul GARIDKHUU; Basilua Andre MUZEMBO; Shunya IKEDA

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Impact of fear of coronavirus disease 2019 on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder traits associated with depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and low self-esteem in university students: a cross-sectional study with mediation analysis.

Author: Tomoko SUZUKI ¹ ; Toshiyuki OHTANI ² ; Michiko NAKAZATO ³ ; Ariuntuul GARIDKHUU ¹ ; Basilua Andre MUZEMBO ¹ ; Shunya IKEDA ¹
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1. Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare.
2. Safety and Health Organization, Chiba University.
3. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: ADHD; COVID-19; Depressive symptoms; Functional impairment; Mediation analysis; Self-esteem; Student
MeSH: Humans; COVID-19/psychology*; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/epidemiology*; Cross-Sectional Studies; Self Concept; Male; Female; Depression/epidemiology*; Fear/psychology*; Young Adult; Universities; Students/psychology*; Adult; SARS-CoV-2; Mediation Analysis; Adolescent
From:Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;30():2-2
CountryJapan
Language:English
Abstract: BACKGROUND:High levels of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits are associated with various outcomes, including depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and low self-esteem. Additionally, individuals with high levels of ADHD traits are reported to be more adversely affected by fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The current study aimed to examine whether the association between ADHD traits and outcomes was partially mediated by fear of COVID-19 using mediation analysis.
METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of university students in medical-related faculties (n = 1,166). ADHD traits, fear of COVID-19, depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and self-esteem were assessed using the adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, K6 Scale, Sheehan Disability Scale, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, respectively. We used linear regression analysis and the Paramed command in Stata to analyze whether fear of COVID-19 mediated the association between ADHD traits and outcomes.
RESULTS:ADHD traits were significantly associated with outcomes. Regarding the impact of fear of COVID-19, the results revealed a significant association between ADHD traits and fear of COVID-19, and between fear of COVID-19 and outcomes. The results of the mediation analyses showed that the association between ADHD traits and outcomes was partially mediated by the fear of COVID-19 (depressive symptoms: direct effect B = 1.029, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.878, 1.181, indirect effect B = 0.021, 95% CI 0.002, 0.040; functional impairment: direct effect B = 0.786, 95% CI 0.593, 0.979, indirect effect B = 0.033, 95% CI 0.005, 0.060; self-esteem: direct effect B = -1.052, 95% CI -1.226, -0.878, indirect effect B = -0.024, 95% CI -0.046, -0.002).
CONCLUSIONS:Developing preventive measures against the adverse impacts of pandemics like COVID-19 will be particularly important for individuals with high levels of ADHD traits in future.