AD/HD symptoms in assessment seeking post-secondary students: Has the COVID-19 pandemic made a difference?

IF 3 3区心理学 Q2 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Clinical Neuropsychologist Pub Date : 2025-07-16 DOI:10.1080/13854046.2025.2533298

Emma Jamieson, Beth Pollock, Nathaniel Davin, Allyson G Harrison

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: Anecdotally, individuals reporting symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) seem to have increased over the past few years, particularly since the onset of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As such, this study aimed to objectively investigate the validity of this observation.

Method: Using archival data from 667 students assessed in a University-based clinic between 2018 and 2024, self-reported AD/HD symptoms on the Conners' Adult AD/HD Rating Scales-Self-Report: Long Version (CAARS-S:L) were compared across three time periods: pre-COVID (n = 407), during COVID (n = 110), and post-COVID (n = 150).

Results: Results indicate a significant increase in reported symptoms of inattention/memory, impulsivity/emotional lability, DSM-IV inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, total AD/HD symptoms, and AD/HD index after the pandemic. Notably, there was a significant increase in problems with self-concept during and after the pandemic, and there were no significant changes in symptoms of hyperactivity/restlessness across all time points. However, the actual rate of diagnosed AD/HD in the sample did not significantly change across these periods.

Conclusions: The findings support anecdotal observations and suggest that the pandemic may have exacerbated AD/HD-like symptoms in an assessment-seeking post-secondary population, even among individuals without formal AD/HD diagnoses. Increases in reported AD/HD symptoms may be related to COVID-19 pandemic factors such as heightened stress, disrupted routines, and increased screen time. The results underscore the need for careful diagnostic practices and further research on the impact of environmental factors on AD/HD symptomatology in young adults.

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寻求评估的大专学生的AD/HD症状：COVID-19大流行是否有所不同？

有趣的是，报告注意缺陷/多动障碍（AD/HD）症状的个体在过去几年中似乎有所增加，特别是自2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行爆发以来。因此，本研究旨在客观地调查这一观察的有效性。方法：使用2018年至2024年间在大学诊所评估的667名学生的档案数据，在康纳斯成人AD/HD评定量表-自我报告：长版本（CAARS-S:L）上自我报告的AD/HD症状在三个时间段进行比较：COVID前（n = 407）， COVID期间（n = 110）和COVID后（n = 150）。结果：结果表明，报告的注意力不集中/记忆、冲动/情绪不稳定、DSM-IV注意力不集中和多动冲动症状、AD/HD总症状和AD/HD指数在大流行后显著增加。值得注意的是，在大流行期间和之后，自我概念问题显著增加，在所有时间点上，多动/躁动症状没有显著变化。然而，在这些时期，样本中被诊断为AD/HD的实际比率并没有显著变化。结论：这些发现支持了轶事观察，并表明大流行可能加剧了寻求评估的中学后人群中的AD/HD样症状，甚至在没有正式AD/HD诊断的个体中也是如此。报告的AD/HD症状增加可能与COVID-19大流行因素有关，如压力增加、日常生活中断和屏幕时间增加。结果强调需要仔细的诊断实践和进一步研究环境因素对年轻成人AD/HD症状的影响。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Clinical Neuropsychologist 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

8.40

自引率

12.80%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： The Clinical Neuropsychologist (TCN) serves as the premier forum for (1) state-of-the-art clinically-relevant scientific research, (2) in-depth professional discussions of matters germane to evidence-based practice, and (3) clinical case studies in neuropsychology. Of particular interest are papers that can make definitive statements about a given topic (thereby having implications for the standards of clinical practice) and those with the potential to expand today’s clinical frontiers. Research on all age groups, and on both clinical and normal populations, is considered.