Adult symptoms of ASD in relation to excessive internet use: The roles of ADHD symptoms and negative mood

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been reportedly associated with excessive internet use, also known as internet addiction. As ADHD is the most common comorbidity in ASD, the present study examined the possibility that ADHD symptoms, and/or trait and mood factors linked to ASD, ADHD and internet addiction, could account for the association of ASD with internet addiction symptoms. A nonclinical young adult sample of 248 internet using men and women completed self‐report measures of ASD and ADHD symptoms, alexithymia, impulsivity, negative moods and internet addiction symptoms. Scores on the ASD and ADHD symptom measures were normally distributed, consistent with the notion that the corresponding disorders represent extreme, impairing ends of population distributions of their symptoms. Hierarchical regression followed by path analysis indicated that the relationship between ASD and internet addiction symptoms was fully mediated by ADHD symptoms and negative moods. Further, the relationship between ADHD and internet addiction symptoms was partially mediated by impulsivity and negative moods. Present findings point to the mediating roles of ADHD symptoms and negative moods in the association of ASD with internet addiction symptoms.