Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) severity: The Relationship with frequency of being disciplined and risk-taking Health behaviors among college students in United States and in India

This study identifies the relationship between self-reported ADHD tendencies and frequency of being disciplined as well as risk-taking Health behaviors among students attending under graduate general education classes in US and in India. Based on specifications for diagnosis of ADHD found in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual IV, our survey contained 18 criteria including: 9 attention deficit criteria, 6 hyperactivity and 3 impulsivity criteria. The paper-based, 43-question survey was answered by 207 students (55% males) in US and 173 students (52%males) in India. Self reported ADHD tendencies were reported on a 10 point likert scale with 10 representing complete presence of the symptom. Students indicated on a scale (never, less than 10 times, 10-50 times, 51-100 times, more than 100 times), the frequencies of being subjected to various types of discipline at home and in school including: hit with a hand or an object, yelling, scolding, loss of privileges, grounding, time out, in-school suspension, and suspension. Also self-reported were the frequencies of risk-taking behaviors including: life time substance use, past 30 days substance use, number of vehicle crashes involved as a driver or passenger, number of romantic relationships lasting less than and greater than a year as well as caffeine consumption. Examination of the results showed that in general Indian students reported greater ADHD tendencies and greater frequency of being disciplined both at home and in school when compared to the US students who reported greater involvement in risk taking health behaviors. For example, 16.8% of Indian students reported being hit with a hand at home more than 100 times compared to 7.7% of US students (p<0.001). While none of the Indian students were involved in any kind of substance abuse, 71.9% of the US students reported at least one type of life time substance abuse (p<0.001). Similarly, 53.1% of US students reported two or more relationships that lasted less than a year when compared to 1.7% of Indian students (p<0.001). Implications for future research will be discussed.