Prevalence, gender distribution and presence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by certain sociodemographic characteristics among university students

Mater Sociomed. 2014 Aug;26(4):253-5. doi: 10.5455/msm.2014.253-255. Epub 2014 Aug 26.

Abstract

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder usually diagnosed in children, with appearance of the first symptoms before the age of seven years. The disorder is characterized by inattention and/or impulsivity and hyperactivity that can seriously affect many aspects of behavior and performance at school. Specific sociodemographic characteristics seem to contribute to the appearance of ADHD.

Material and methods: The study was done on a sample of 500 university students. For the measurement of ADHD symptoms, the ADHD Adult Self-report Scale was used and a specifically designed questionnaire for collecting sociodemographic data.

Results: The results of this screening study showed that in 184 (48.7%) respondents the symptoms of the disorder in the activity and attention were registered. ADHD is highly significant associated with gender (p = 0.0004). Men more often than women have this kind of disorder. Our results also showed that living and material conditions were not associated with a higher prevalence of ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; gender; prevalence; sociodemographic characteristics; university students.