Associations between Autistic and ADHD Traits and the Well-Being and Mental Health of University Students
Research on autism and ADHD continues to increase, as does the research on well-being and mental health. There is a growing need to understand what factors impact mental health and well-being, and the question arises as to what factors impact mental health and well-being in autism and ADHD. The exis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/1/14 |
| _version_ | 1797358776970379264 |
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| author | Japnoor Garcha Andrew P. Smith |
| author_facet | Japnoor Garcha Andrew P. Smith |
| author_sort | Japnoor Garcha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research on autism and ADHD continues to increase, as does the research on well-being and mental health. There is a growing need to understand what factors impact mental health and well-being, and the question arises as to what factors impact mental health and well-being in autism and ADHD. The existing literature focuses on two different aspects when it comes to the well-being and mental health of autism in students. One aspect focuses on mental health and well-being in diagnosed neurodivergent individuals, and the other aspect focuses on associations between autistic and ADHD traits and mental health and well-being. In order to understand the impact on mental health in autism, an online survey using the Qualtrics platform was given to a sample of 430 university students. The survey used the well-being process questionnaire, the autism spectrum quotient, the ADHD self-report scale, and the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. The results showed significant correlations between anxiety, depression, and autistic and ADHD traits (all correlations > 0.2). These variables were also correlated with the well-being and SDQ outcomes and well-being predictors (all correlations > 0.2). The regression analyses showed significant associations between well-being outcomes and predictor variables and anxiety and depression, whereas the effects of autistic and ADHD traits were restricted to the SDQ outcomes (hyperactivity, conduct, and peer problems). Regression analyses were also conducted to determine whether a variable formed by combining autistic traits, ADHD, anxiety, and depression scores was a significant predictor of well-being and SDQ outcomes. The combined variable was associated with all outcome variables except the prosocial variable. This study provides the basis for further research for understanding the interaction between well-being, mental health, autism, and ADHD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:07:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-12fc27db16784f0b8b33cda4a57d5e7d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:07:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-12fc27db16784f0b8b33cda4a57d5e7d2024-01-10T14:57:17ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-12-011211410.3390/healthcare12010014Associations between Autistic and ADHD Traits and the Well-Being and Mental Health of University StudentsJapnoor Garcha0Andrew P. Smith1Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AS, UKCentre for Occupational and Health Psychology, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AS, UKResearch on autism and ADHD continues to increase, as does the research on well-being and mental health. There is a growing need to understand what factors impact mental health and well-being, and the question arises as to what factors impact mental health and well-being in autism and ADHD. The existing literature focuses on two different aspects when it comes to the well-being and mental health of autism in students. One aspect focuses on mental health and well-being in diagnosed neurodivergent individuals, and the other aspect focuses on associations between autistic and ADHD traits and mental health and well-being. In order to understand the impact on mental health in autism, an online survey using the Qualtrics platform was given to a sample of 430 university students. The survey used the well-being process questionnaire, the autism spectrum quotient, the ADHD self-report scale, and the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. The results showed significant correlations between anxiety, depression, and autistic and ADHD traits (all correlations > 0.2). These variables were also correlated with the well-being and SDQ outcomes and well-being predictors (all correlations > 0.2). The regression analyses showed significant associations between well-being outcomes and predictor variables and anxiety and depression, whereas the effects of autistic and ADHD traits were restricted to the SDQ outcomes (hyperactivity, conduct, and peer problems). Regression analyses were also conducted to determine whether a variable formed by combining autistic traits, ADHD, anxiety, and depression scores was a significant predictor of well-being and SDQ outcomes. The combined variable was associated with all outcome variables except the prosocial variable. This study provides the basis for further research for understanding the interaction between well-being, mental health, autism, and ADHD.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/1/14autismADHDautistic traitsmental healthwell-beingstrengths and difficulties |
| spellingShingle | Japnoor Garcha Andrew P. Smith Associations between Autistic and ADHD Traits and the Well-Being and Mental Health of University Students Healthcare autism ADHD autistic traits mental health well-being strengths and difficulties |
| title | Associations between Autistic and ADHD Traits and the Well-Being and Mental Health of University Students |
| title_full | Associations between Autistic and ADHD Traits and the Well-Being and Mental Health of University Students |
| title_fullStr | Associations between Autistic and ADHD Traits and the Well-Being and Mental Health of University Students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations between Autistic and ADHD Traits and the Well-Being and Mental Health of University Students |
| title_short | Associations between Autistic and ADHD Traits and the Well-Being and Mental Health of University Students |
| title_sort | associations between autistic and adhd traits and the well being and mental health of university students |
| topic | autism ADHD autistic traits mental health well-being strengths and difficulties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/1/14 |
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