Childhood ADHD Predicts Risky Sexual Behavior in Young Adulthood
Abstract
This study compared young adults (ages 18 to 26) with and without childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on self-reported risky sexual behaviors. Participants were 175 men with childhood ADHD and 111 demographically similar men without ADHD in the Pittsburgh ADHD Longitudinal Study (PALS). Childhood ADHD predicted earlier initiation of sexual activity and intercourse, more sexual partners, more casual sex, and more partner pregnancies. Although childhood conduct problems did contribute significantly to risky sexual behaviors among participants with ADHD, there was also an independent contribution of ADHD, suggesting that the characteristic deficits of the disorder or other associated features may be useful childhood markers of later vulnerability.
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ADHD prospectively predicted risky driving, sexual behavior, gambling, and unintentional injury.
“ADHD also prospectively predicted risky driving, sexual behavior, gambling, and unintentional injury (Breyer et al. 2009; Flory et al. 2006; Garzon et al. 2008; Thompson et al. 2007).”
From Risk taking and sensitivity to punishment in children with ADHD, ODD, ADHD+ODD, and controls (2011) · cites this paper as Flory et al. 2006
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- Authors
- Flory, K., Molina, B. S. G., Pelham, Jr., Gnagy, E., & Smith, B.
- Affiliations
- University of South Carolina (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2006-12
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 571-577
- ISSN
- 1537-4416 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-4424
- OpenAlex
- W1976547563
- Cited by
- 319
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 4.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (n01mh12010-0-0-1, 5r01es005015-10)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K21AA000202, T32 AA07453-20, AA 11873, AA00202, AA12342, R01AA012342, T32AA007453)
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH62946, R01MH062946, MH065899, R01MH065899, R01MH053554, MH 12010, MH-53554)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA12414, R21DA016631, DA016631, R01DA012414)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS-39087, R01NS039087)
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (ES 05015)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Keywords
- childhood ADHD, sexual risk behavior, young men, sexual initiation, sexual partners, casual sex, conduct problems
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Pennsylvania, Predictive Value of Tests, Risk-Taking, Self Disclosure, Sexual Behavior, Odds Ratio
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