Associations Linking ADHD Traits and Psychopatological Symptoms: The Contribution of Interoceptive Awareness and Dispositional Mindfulness
Isa Zappullo, Roberta Cecere, Anna Scuotto, Anna Lauro, Vincenzo Paolo Senese, Luigi Trojano, Massimiliano Conson
Mindfulness July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-026-02831-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 213 |
| Population | Neurotypical young adults |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Path analysis identified three associations linking ADHD traits to anxiety and depressive symptoms: one shared between inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive traits, and two specific to hyperactive/impulsive traits. The authors argue that a trait-based approach incorporating interoceptive awareness and dispositional mindfulness may help clarify how ADHD traits relate to psychopathology. |
Abstract
Abstract Objectives In the present study, we adopted a trait-based approach to neurodivergence to test a model conceptualizing different patterns of associations through which ADHD traits relate to anxiety and depressive symptoms by considering interoceptive processing and dispositional mindfulness as potential contributing factors. Of note, we kept inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive ADHD traits separate, as these two core domains may differentially relate to psychopathological symptoms.
Method: In a cross-sectional study on neurotypical young adults ( n = 213), path analysis was used to test the direct and indirect relationships between ADHD traits and anxiety and depressive symptoms, examining the possible involvement of interoceptive awareness and dispositional mindfulness in these associations.
Results: Considering inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity traits separately, the analysis identified three associations linking ADHD traits to anxiety and depressive symptoms. One association was shared between the two ADHD traits, whereas two other associations were specifically related to hyperactive/impulsive traits.
Conclusions: Our results underscore the potential of a trait-based approach that incorporates interoception and mindfulness to better understand the relationships between ADHD and psychopathology. Preregistration This study is not preregistered.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cites 18
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness starts with the body: somatosensory attention and top-down modulation of cortical alpha rhythms in mindfulness meditation Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2013
- Excessive mind wandering, rumination, and mindfulness mediate the relationship between ADHD symptoms and anxiety and depression in adults with ADHD Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy 2024
- The Role of Dispositional Mindfulness in the Impact of Repetitive Negative Thinking on Anxiety and Depression in People with Different Autistic-Like Traits Mindfulness April 1, 2023
- 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
and 13 more in the library