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Risky Behavior and Impulsive Sensation Seeking in Young Adults with ADHD and Young Adults Who Report ADHD Symptoms

Zimak, Eric H.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1203113018

Abstract Details

2008, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Psychology (Arts and Sciences).
Though only 1-5% of the young adult population suffers from an adult ADHD diagnosis, approximately 30% of young adults self-report significantly impairing ADHD symptoms. Little is known about how adults who experience high levels of current ADHD symptoms but do not meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD differ from adults who clearly meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The current investigation examined differences in risky behavior and personality characteristics among adults meeting criteria for an ADHD diagnosis, adults reporting clinically high levels of ADHD symptoms but who were never diagnosed with ADHD, and an adult control group. As hypothesized, both ADHD groups self-reported higher levels of risk-taking behavior and personality traits, risky alcohol use, and recreational drug use relative to controls. Additionally, both ADHD groups showed greater risk-taking behavior on one of two risky behavior tasks than controls. However, with the exception of one risky decision making task, the ADHD groups did not differ from one another. Results provide further evidence that young adults with ADHD are generally riskier than normal controls, but not riskier than young adults who report current ADHD symptoms but have no childhood history of the disorder. Reasons for the lack of differences between the two ADHD groups, along with clinical assessment and treatment implications of the findings, are discussed.
Julie A. Suhr, PhD (Advisor)
Christine A. Gidycz, PhD (Committee Member)
Julie S. Owens, PhD (Committee Member)
108 p.
Psychology
ADHD; risky behavior; young adults

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zimak, E. H. (2008). Risky Behavior and Impulsive Sensation Seeking in Young Adults with ADHD and Young Adults Who Report ADHD Symptoms [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1203113018

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zimak, Eric. Risky Behavior and Impulsive Sensation Seeking in Young Adults with ADHD and Young Adults Who Report ADHD Symptoms. 2008. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1203113018.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zimak, Eric. "Risky Behavior and Impulsive Sensation Seeking in Young Adults with ADHD and Young Adults Who Report ADHD Symptoms." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1203113018

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1203113018
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© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.