Associations between inattention and impulsivity ADHD symptoms and disordered eating risk in a community sample of young adults

Abstract

Background Symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and trait impulsivity have been associated with disordered eating but are seldom assessed in community studies, or longitudinally and little is known about the mediating mechanisms. Methods We tested associations between ADHD symptoms and disordered eating cross-sectionally and between trait impulsivity and disordered eating longitudinally. We utilised data from a normative cohort of young adults (642 participants: 65% female, Mage = 23 years). Participants were classified as high risk or low risk for disordered eating using the SCOFF instrument. In the first two steps of both cross-sectional and longitudinal hierarchical logistic regression models, demographics and covariates were entered. For the cross-sectional regression, Adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS) scores, separated into inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, were entered in the third step. In a separate longitudinal model, Barratt impulsivity scale subscales (attentional, motor and non-planning impulsivity) were entered in the third step. Depression, as assessed by the moods and feelings questionnaire (MFQ), was examined as a mediator. Results Cross-sectionally, sex, MFQ score and inattentive symptoms predicted disordered eating risk (model R2 = 20%). Longitudinally, sex, MFQ score and attentional impulsivity predicted disordered eating risk (model R2 = 16%). The relationship between inattentive symptoms and the disordered eating risk was partially mediated by MFQ score, whereas the relationship between attentional impulsivity and the disordered eating risk was fully mediated by MFQ scores. Conclusions These data highlight (1) a specific role for inattentive symptoms of ADHD and (2) the importance of both depression and impulsivity in predicting eating disorder risk.

Overlap of eating disorders and neurodivergence: the role of inhibitory control

“…Similarly, Seitz et al (2013) found that inattentive symptoms of ADHD explained more variance in ED symptoms than hyperactivity or impulsivity within an ADHD and BN sample. These findings could suggest that impaired attentional control is an underlying vulnerability factor for developing an ED among those with ADHD (Martin et al, 2022). This is consistent with findings in a longitudinal study, which identified that the combination of higher inattentive and hyperactive/impulsivity symptoms of ADHD in childhood increased the susceptibility to disordered eating in adolescence (Yilmaz et al, 2017).…”

Do Emotion Dysregulation, Alexithymia and Personality Dimensions Explain the Association Between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Binge Eating Among Bariatric Surgery Candidates?

“…Initial support to this hypothesis has been provided in a study reporting that emotion dysregulation may mediate the effects of negative affectivity on BE (Kukk and Akkermann, 2020). Further support comes from a previous review that suggested a mediational role of emotion dysregulation and negative affectivity in the ADHDaddictive-like eating relationship (El Archi et al, 2020), and from a previous study highlighting the mediational role of mood and feelings in the association between inattention symptoms of ADHD and risk of disordered eating (Martin et al, 2020).…”

Overlap of eating disorders and neurodivergence: the role of inhibitory control

“…Similarly, Seitz et al [ 49 ] found that inattentive symptoms of ADHD explained more variance in ED symptoms than hyperactivity or impulsivity within an ADHD and BN sample. These findings could suggest that impaired attentional control is an underlying vulnerability factor for developing an ED among those with ADHD [ 100 ]. This is consistent with findings in a longitudinal study, which identified that the combination of higher inattentive and hyperactive/impulsivity symptoms of ADHD in childhood increased the susceptibility to disordered eating in adolescence [ 101 ].…”