Redefining ADHD Using an Adult Population: Should Inattention be Viewed as a Separate Dimension From Cognitive and Physiological Activity Level?

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to reexamine the latent structure of ADHD and sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) due to issues with construct validity. Two proposed changes to the construct include viewing hyperactivity and sluggishness (hypoactivity) as a single continuum of activity level, and viewing inattention as a separate dimension from activity level. Method: Data were collected from 1,398 adults using Amazon’s MTurk. A new scale measuring activity level was developed, and scores of Inattention were regressed onto scores of Activity Level using curvilinear regression. Results: The Activity Level scale showed acceptable levels of internal consistency, normality, and unimodality. Curvilinear regression indicates that a quadratic (curvilinear) model accurately explains a small but significant portion of the variance in levels of inattention. Conclusion: Hyperactivity and hypoactivity may be viewed as a continuum, rather than separate disorders. Inattention may have a U-shaped relationship with activity level. Linear analyses may be insufficient and inaccurate for studying ADHD.