ADHD Symptoms Associated With Lower Academic Performance in College Students
Symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were associated with a lower academic performance in college students, especially those with inattention symptoms, according to a recent systematic review published in the Journal of Attention Disorders.
Researchers systematically reviewed scientific literature published between 2018 and 2024 on the academic performance of university students with ADHD. Authors aimed to identify factors influencing academic performance as well as evaluate tools used to collect ADHD symptom and educational data. The review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and included quantitative studies found in PubMed, PsycInfo, and Scopus. The quality of evidence for each study was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
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A total of 15 studies were included in the review, showing that an ADHD diagnosis or significant symptoms, especially inattention, are linked to lower academic performance in college students. Other factors like executive functions, medication use, and study strategies were also found to play a role in academic performance. Commonly used tools for ADHD assessment included the ADHD Self-Report Scale and ADHD Rating Scale—Self Report Version. Half of the studies measured academic performance using GPA information received directly from university records and the other half had students self-report their grades.
“Overall, ADHD has a relevant impact on the academic performance of university students, but the evaluation methodology used has some differences with respect to child’s evaluations procedures,” authors noted. “Therefore, studies in this population must include not only self-reported symptomatology, but also assessments from clinicians specialized in adult ADHD.”
