Clinical Psychology: Research and Practice Innovations

Clinical Psychology: Research and Practice Innovations"

The moderating role of the sense of coherence in the link between ADHD symptoms and antisocial behavior

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Reyhaneh Mehdizadeh 1
Mohammadali Mohammadifar 2
1 . Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan,
2 Master of General Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.
10.22075/jcp.2025.37650.3180
Abstract
Introduction:
ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children, affecting psychological and social functioning. A key challenge for individuals with ADHD is a tendency toward antisocial behaviors. However, limited research has explored protective factors that can mitigate these behaviors. This study investigates whether a sense of coherence acts as a protective variable against antisocial tendencies in females with ADHD.
Methodology:
This correlational study involved 351 female high school students from five schools in District 8, Tehran, selected through multistage cluster sampling. Participants completed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-V 1.1), the Antisocial Behavior Questionnaire by Burt and Donnellan, and the Sense of Coherence Scale by Felensborg. Data analysis used Pearson's correlation and Hayes' PROCESS regression analysis with SPSS version 27.
Results:
Results indicated a significant positive correlation (r = 0.24, p < 0.01) between ADHD symptoms and antisocial behaviors. Moreover, sense of coherence moderated this relationship; higher coherence levels reduced the strength of the link between ADHD symptoms and antisocial tendencies, with an interaction effect size of 0.01. Although the moderation was moderate, it highlights the protective role of coherence.
Conclusion:
Findings suggest that individuals with ADHD who have a strong sense of coherence tend to exhibit fewer antisocial behaviors. Promoting coherence could serve as a valuable intervention target to mitigate antisocial conduct among vulnerable youths with ADHD.
Keywords
Sense of coherence
ADHD
antisocial behavior
Subjects

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  • Receive Date 05 May 2025
  • Revise Date 21 November 2025
  • Accept Date 28 June 2025
  • First Publish Date 20 February 2026
  • Publish Date 20 February 2026