Negative social interactions on the relationship between ADD/ADHD and both anxious and depressive symptoms among Canadian adults

Objective

The primary goal of the present research was to examine whether the associations that negative social interactions (NSIs) demonstrate with both anxiety and depression varied between adults with and without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a Canadian sample.

Method

Data were obtained from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey–Mental Health (N ≥ 16,354). Presence of NSIs, diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and experience of major depressive episodes (MDEs) were estimated in the self-report ADHD and non-ADHD groups.

Results

NSIs were positively associated with having GAD and experiencing an MDE. Self-reported ADHD was also positively associated with these diagnostic outcomes. Presence of self-reported ADHD did not significantly modify the associations between NSI and GAD or NSI and MDE.

Conclusion

The findings show that increased levels of NSIs are significant predictors of an increased risk of experiencing anxiety and depression, and that ADHD itself a corelate of anxiety and depression. However, the associations that NSIs demonstrate with anxiety and with depression do not significantly differ based on the presence or absence of an ADHD diagnosis.