The relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder emotion regulation difficulties and sleep quality in adults: a cross sectional study

Apr 29, 2025BMC psychiatry

How ADHD-related emotion regulation problems are linked to sleep quality in adults

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Abstract

Adults with had significantly higher difficulties compared to controls.

A total of 39 adults with ADHD were compared to 37 healthy controls based on emotion regulation and .
Individuals with ADHD scored higher on the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) than those without ADHD.
No significant differences in sleep quality, as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), were found between the ADHD and control groups.
A correlation exists between emotion regulation difficulties and sleep quality in adults with ADHD, suggesting a relationship between these factors.

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OBJECTIVE: (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood and often persists into adulthood, characterized by difficulties with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. This study aims to explore the relationship between ADHD, difficulties, and in adults.

METHODS: Thirty-nine adults with ADHD were compared to thirty-seven healthy controls. Participants completed the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS).

RESULTS: Participants were categorized based on their WURS scores those with a score of 36 or higher (ADHD group) and those with a score below 36 (non ADHD group). Comparisons of the PSQI and DERS scores between groups revealed that the group with ADHD had significantly higher total and subscale DERS scores compared to the group without ADHD. However, no significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of PSQI total and subscale scores. When the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and sleep quality of participants diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was examined, a correlation was found between DERS total and subscale scores and PSQI total and subscale scores.

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that adults with ADHD have more difficulties in emotion regulation than those without ADHD. Although no difference in sleep quality was found in our study between adults with ADHD and those without ADHD, the correlation between PSQI and DERS suggests that developing emotion regulation strategies with a transdiagnostic approach may help improve sleep quality.

Key numbers

114.8

Increase in Difficulties

DERS total score in group

7.18

No Difference in

PSQI total score in group

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The relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder emotion regulation difficulties and sleep quality in adults: a cross sectional study

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