Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms: Associations with Gray’s and Tellegen’s models of personality

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms of inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI) were examined in relation to three personality instruments: Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ); the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) scales; and the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire-Brief (MPQ-BF) (N = 214). Results showed that IA was associated positively with Sensitivity to Punishment (in the SPSRQ), Negative Emotionality (in the MPQ-BF), and Behavioral Inhibition System (in the BIS/BAS scales). HI was associated positively with Sensitivity to Reward (in the SPSRQ), Reward Responsiveness and Drive (both in the BIS/BAS scales), and Positive Emotionality (in the MPQ-BF). Both IA and HI were associated negatively with Constraint (in the MPQ-BF), and HI was associated positively with Fun Seeking (in the BIS/BAS scales). These findings are interpreted in terms of the original and revised reinforcement sensitivity theories.