Prevalence and Correlates of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder among College Students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly diagnosed in Saudi Arabia, but there is negligible evidence regarding adult ADHD in college students. Objective: To determine the prevalence and correlates of ADHD among undergraduates at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2280 undergraduate students from 11 colleges at King Abdulaziz University, one of the largest university in Saudi Arabia, were approached in person with a questionnaire that elicited information regarding demographics, education, psychiatric history, health behaviors, and ADHD. A validated Arabic version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale was used. Results: A total of 2059 students (90%) completed the questionnaire (mean age: 21.2 years). Almost one-tenth (11.9%) of the sample met the criteria for adult ADHD; only 6.5% had been diagnosed with ADHD in childhood and <1% (0.8%) had taken medication for the same. Multivariate analyses revealed that high family income, low grade in the last semester, parental divorce, diagnosis of childhood ADHD, prior diagnosis of depression, greater severity of current depression and anxiety, and cigarette smoking increased the likelihood of adult ADHD. Conclusion: A notable proportion of students in this study had suspected adult ADHD. Early evaluation of students with ADHD and identification of those at risk may potentially help in improving their academic performance and quality of life.

Prevalence of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among medical students in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

“…In comparison to recent Saudi studies, all 3 studies showed a lower prevalence rate than our study. 16 - 18 A cross-sectional study carried out in 2020 examined 1177 medical students from 3 medical schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study found that only 39 (3.31%) students were diagnosed with ADHD and were using stimulants.…”

“…Apart from the 2 Riyadh studies, only one cross-sectional study concerning this matter was carried out in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2022. 16 The study included 2,059 students from 11 colleges at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Along with adult ADHD Self-Report Scale it was stated that 11.9% of the students were most likely to have adult ADHD, and out of the total sample, only 6.5% were diagnosed with ADHD during childhood.…”

“…In Saudi Arabia, 3 recent cross-sectional studies showed varying prevalences. 16 - 18 In 2022, a study carried out by Alghamdi et al 16 stated that 11.9% of college students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, were suspected to have ADHD. The other 2 studies were carried out in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the capital city of Saudi Arabia.…”

Adult ADHD Positive Screening and Sibship, Birth Order and Academic Achievement: Implications for Epidemiologists and Physicians in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“…Nonetheless, others have reported lower rates, for example locally in the KSA, and a prevalence of 10.9% and 11.9% was both reported in Riyadh and Jeddah, respectively. 16 , 17 …”

“…Only two studies based on single institutions have looked at ADHD in college students in general reporting rates between 10% and 12%. 16 , 17 The King Salman Centre for Disability Research published in its Saudi national mental health report in 2019 a prevalence of 8% among the 4004 adults aged between 15 and 65 years old. 18 In the same report, the authors recommended that research specific to youth and young adults at schools and universities is needed in order to highlight the status of mental health in this vital specific age group.…”