Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms in an adult sample: Associations with Rothbart’s temperament dimensions

• ADHD symptoms groups are inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI).
• Recently, ADHD has been conceptualized as a bifactor model.
• This model has a general factor, and specific factors for the symptom groups.
• Effortful and reactive control predicted specific IA and HI, respectively.
• Findings are consistent with dual pathways models of ADHD.

Relationships between Rothbart’s 13 temperament sub-dimensions and the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) factors for the 2-factor model [inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI) domains] and the bifactor model (general ADHD, and specific factors for IA and HI) were examined in 267 adults from the general population. Regression analyses revealed that (1) both the IA and HI factors in the 2-factor model and the general ADHD factor in the bifactor model were predicted positively by sad, discomfort and associative sensitivity, and negatively by activation control, (2) the HI domain factor in the 2-factor model was also predicted negatively by inhibitory control, (3) the specific IA factor in the bifactor model was predicted negatively by activation control and attention control, and (4) the HI specific factor in the bifactor model was predicted negatively by inhibitory control and positively by sociability. These theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.