The role of distress tolerance and delay of gratification in the health risk behaviors of females with and without ADHD.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the independent and joint effects of ADHD status, distress tolerance, and delay of gratification on the propensity to engage in health risk behaviors (drug use, alcohol use, disordered eating).

PARTICIPANTS/

METHODS

Participants included 115 female college students (41.7% with ADHD) who completed online questionnaires.

RESULTS

College students with a prior diagnosis of ADHD reported significantly lower distress tolerance, decreased delay of gratification, more drug and alcohol use, and more disordered eating in comparison to those without ADHD. Main effects for delay of gratification in predicting uncontrolled and emotional eating and two significant moderation analyses emerged. For individuals with ADHD, poorer distress tolerance was associated with more drug use.

CONCLUSION

Results highlight the potential to target distress tolerance to reduce engagement in drug use among female college students with ADHD, and to target the ability to delay gratification to reduce risk for disordered eating among all college students.