The association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and attachment in an adult community sample

The current paper utilises a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach to examine the structure of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood and assess the relation of IA and HI ADHD symptom domains with anxious and avoidant attachment dimensions. The study compared the 2-factor model with a bi-factor model of ADHD. The sample size for the present study was 326 adults, comprising 237 females (72.7%) and 89 males (27.3%) with an age range of 18-73 years inclusive. Participants were 326 adults (72.7% male; n=237 and 27.3% female; n=89) ranging from 18 to 73 years old. A bi-factor model of ADHD exhibited the best fit compared to the 2-factor model, suggesting it may be a better structural model for the organisation of ADHD symptoms in adults. Results suggest ADHD appears to be comprised of a single factor that captures common variance in ADHD symptom domains, as well as two separate inattention and hyperactivityimpulsivity factors that capture unique variance. The ADHD general factor was additionally found to be significantly related to insecure attachment, specifically anxious attachment but not avoidant attachment.