Excessive mind wandering, rumination, and mindfulness mediate the relationship between ADHD symptoms and anxiety and depression in adults with ADHD
Ali Kandeğer, Şerife Odabaş Ünal, Muhammed Tuğrul Ergün, Emine Yavuz Ataşlar
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy 2024 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2940 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 159 |
| Population | Medication-free adults diagnosed with ADHD |
| Measures | Adult ADHD Severity Rating Scale, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Mind Excessively Wandering Scale, Ruminative Response Scale, Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | ADHD symptoms showed an indirect, but not direct, association with anxiety and depression severity, mediated by increased excessive mind wandering and rumination and decreased trait mindfulness. The authors suggest that addressing excessive mind wandering and rumination and promoting mindfulness may be promising treatment targets for comorbid anxiety and depression in adults with ADHD, while noting longitudinal studies are needed. |
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundPersistent mind‐wandering processes are associated with negative emotions; however, mindful states exhibit an anticorrelation with mind‐wandering patterns. The aim of this study is to investigate the mediating role of excessive mind wandering (EMW), rumination, and trait mindfulness between attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and the severity of anxiety/depression in adults with ADHD.MethodsMedication‐free 159 adults diagnosed with ADHD completed a test battery that included a sociodemographic form as well as the Adult ADHD Severity Rating Scale, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Mind Excessively Wandering Scale, Ruminative Response Scale, and Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory after the diagnostic examination according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐5–Clinician Version (SCID‐5).ResultsADHD symptoms exhibited an indirect, but not a direct, association with the severity of anxiety and depression, mediated by increased excessive mind wandering and rumination, as well as decreased trait mindfulness.LimitationsThis study was carried out within a clinical population using a cross‐sectional design. While diagnostic assessments were conducted using SCID‐5, psychiatric symptoms were evaluated through self‐report measures.ConclusionsCoping with EMW and rumination and promoting mindfulness ability may be promising targets in treating comorbid conditions in adults with ADHD. These findings have highlighted the effects of mentation processes on depression and anxiety, which are common comorbidities with ADHD in adults; however, longitudinal studies are needed.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety. International sample of people who reported having used a psychedelic | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 985 |
| The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Internet survey respondents reporting challenging experiences with psilocybin | 2016 | Questionnaire development and validation | |
| Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States | 2013 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 130,152 |
| Ecstasy/MDMA attributed problems reported by novice, moderate and heavy recreational users Ecstasy users who participated in a WWW study of recreational drug use | 2002 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 282 |
| 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety. Adults who used 5-MeO-DMT in a group setting with structured procedures | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 362 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Rumination and alexithymia serially mediate the relationship between mindfulness and anxiety symptoms in Chinese university students. Scientific Reports July 16, 2025
- Associations Linking ADHD Traits and Psychopatological Symptoms: The Contribution of Interoceptive Awareness and Dispositional Mindfulness Mindfulness July 1, 2026
Cites 5
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- The efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder beyond core symptoms: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Journal of Affective Disorders September 1, 2021
- Does mindfulness training improve cognitive abilities? A systematic review of neuropsychological findings. Clinical Psychology Review December 1, 2010
- The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Therapy on Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-Analytic Review Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology April 1, 2010
- Mindfulness Meditation Training in Adults and Adolescents With ADHD Journal of Attention Disorders May 1, 2008