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Financial Dependence of Young Adults with Childhood ADHD

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Abstract

This study used data from the Pittsburgh ADHD Longitudinal Study (PALS) to evaluate financial outcomes of young adults (YA) with ADHD relative to comparisons. Participants for this study included 309 individuals who had been diagnosed with ADHD (DSM-III-R or DSM-IV) in childhood and 208 comparison YA without childhood ADHD diagnoses (total N = 517) who were followed through age 25. Participants were predominately male (88 %) and Caucasian (84 %). Diagnostic interviews were conducted in childhood. Young adults and their parents reported on financial outcomes and a number of predictor variables. Young adults with ADHD experienced greater financial dependence on family members (p < 0.05) and the welfare system (p < 0.01) and had lower earnings (p < 0.05) than comparisons. ADHD diagnostic status, education attainment, and delinquency were significant predictors of financial outcomes. A projection of lifetime earnings indicated that ADHD group participants could expect to earn $543,000–$616,000 less over their lifetimes than comparisons. Due to the propensity of individuals with ADHD to underreport problems, the data are likely to be underestimates. These findings support the need for interventions to improve labor market outcomes as well as the development of interventions that target the management of personal finances for individuals with ADHD in young adulthood.

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Notes

  1. To evaluate the effect of educational attainment and delinquency on financial outcomes independent of ADHD, all predictor analyses were also performed excluding childhood ADHD status. These analyses revealed that education attainment was a protective factor against negative financial outcomes (p < 0.05) and living at home (p < 0.05).

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by NIAAA11873 and NIDA12414. Additional support was provided by AA00202, AA08746, AA12342, AA0626 from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA05605, F31 DA017546, DA-8-5553, DA034731), the National Institute on Mental Health (MH097819, MH099030, MH12010, MH4815, MH47390, MH45576, MH50467, MH53554, MH069614), and the Institute of Education Sciences (IESLO30000665A, IESR324B06045, R324A120169).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St AHC1 140, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Amy R. Altszuler, Elizabeth M. Gnagy, Stefany Coxe & William E. Pelham Jr.

  2. Department of Health Policy and Management, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., AHC5 447, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Timothy F. Page & Alejandro Arrieta

  3. Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 3811 O’Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Brooke S. G. Molina

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  1. Amy R. Altszuler
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Correspondence to Timothy F. Page.

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Altszuler, A.R., Page, T.F., Gnagy, E.M. et al. Financial Dependence of Young Adults with Childhood ADHD. J Abnorm Child Psychol 44, 1217–1229 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-015-0093-9

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