Coping strategies among adults with ADHD: The mediational role of attachment relationship patterns.
Abstract
Background For adults with attention/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), research is scarce on their coping with stress (despite studies demonstrating other self-regulation deficits) and their attachment patterns (despite rare research in younger persons with ADHD showing high vulnerability to insecure attachments). Attachment was linked with coping and self-regulation in general populations but not yet in ADHD. This study explored the possible mediational role of attachment patterns in explaining associations between adults' ADHD symptoms and dysregulated coping. Methods Participants comprised 62 adults (32 females, 30 males) ages 21-40 years (M = 27.60, SD = 4.80) in two groups: 31 adults with formally diagnosed ADHD and 31 demographically matched adults without ADHD. Instruments included computerized neuropsychological tests (sustained/executive attention) and self-reports (ADHD, coping, attachment). Results Disorder status was verified via ADHD-symptom self-reports and computerized testing. Preliminary analyses revealed significant intergroup differences on coping strategies and attachment. PROCESS analyses (Hayes, 2013) pinpointed attachment measures' mediating role (especially attachment anxiety) regarding ADHD's association with coping. Conclusions Significantly more maladaptive attachment and coping outcomes emerged for adults with ADHD than controls. Attachment insecurity's role in mediating ADHD's association with coping was partially supported. Possible unique adaptive…
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An anxious attachment style mediates the relationship between ADHD traits and avoidance-oriented coping.
“Similarly, an anxious attachment style has been shown to mediate the relationship between ADHD traits and avoidance‐oriented coping (Al‐Yagon et al. 2020)”
From “I Felt Like a Burden”: An Exploration Into the Experience of Romantic Relationships for People With ADHD (2026) · cites this paper as Al‐Yagon et al. 2020
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“Similarly, an anxious attachment style has been shown to mediate the relationship between ADHD traits and avoidance ‐ oriented coping (Al ‐ Yagon et al. 2020) and moderate the relationship between ADHD and depression and anxiety symptoms (Kordahji et al. 2021).”
- Authors
- Al-Yagon, M., Lachmi, M., & Shalev, L.
- Affiliations
- Tel Aviv University (IL)
- Venue
- Research in Developmental Disabilities
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-07
- Volume
- 102
- Pages
- 103657
- ISSN
- 0891-4222 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3018622179
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Research in Developmental Disabilities (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- adult ADHD, coping strategies, insecure attachment, attachment anxiety, stress coping, maladaptive coping, mediation, executive function, sustained attention, self-regulation
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Anxiety, Attention, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Female, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Young Adult
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