OBJECTIVE

ADHD is a commonly diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder in the U.S., with symptoms including hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. These symptoms can lead to increased engagement in unhealthy behaviors. The current study examined the associations between health risk factors and ADHD among a community-based sample of 345 students (4th-12th grade) by ADHD alone or with co-occurring disorders, ADHD medication use, and ADHD symptom count. Distinct from prior studies, our analysis also examined associations among pairs of health risk factors by ADHD diagnostic criteria.

METHOD

Data came from the Replication Project to Learn About Youth-Mental Health, using a two-stage design, incorporating teacher, parent, and student reported data.

RESULT

Students with ADHD experienced a higher prevalence of not using a bike helmet (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.01, 1.35]), being bullied, threatened, or feeling unsafe at school (PR = 1.83, 95% CI [1.02, 3.30]) carrying a weapon (PR = 7.02, 95% CI [2.58, 19.08]), and feeling sad or hopeless within the past 2 weeks (PR = 2.74, 95% CI [1.01, 7.47]) compared to those with no disorder. Students with ADHD exhibited different risk associations compared to those with no disorder, specifically for interpersonal violence risk. Medication treatment for ADHD was not associated with fewer health risks, except that students taking ADHD medication were less likely to skip breakfast (PR = 0.40, 95% CI [0.20, 0.78]) compared to those without ADHD. Higher ADHD symptom counts were associated with elevated television screen time, stimulant medication misuse, physical fight involvement, and carrying a weapon ( < .05).

CONCLUSION

Evaluating participation in health risk factors and developing tailored interventions may benefit youth with ADHD, regardless of treatment status.