Abstract
Background
Whether clustering of social disadvantage in young adulthood is associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is poorly understood. We examined clustering of ADHD with low educational attainment and unemployment in young adulthood; whether such clustering is stronger when unemployment was prolonged; and whether further clustering of disability pensioning, low education and unemployment occurs among those with ADHD.
Methods
Data were obtained from Swedish health, demographic and social security registers from which 8990 individuals with recorded ADHD diagnoses at the age of 10 to 35 and their 44387 matched references without mental disorders. Social disadvantage was measured using data on educational attainment, unemployment and disability pension from the diagnosis year or age 19 if diagnosed at younger age. Clustering was examined by comparing observed and expected occurrence (O/E ratio) of all possible combinations of ADHD, low education and unemployment, and, among those with ADHD, additional combinations with new-onset disability pension.
Results
The likelihood of having neither ADHD, low education nor unemployment was increased (O/E ratio = 1.20, 95% confidence interval 1.19–1.20 at baseline; 1.18, 1.17–1.18 at follow-up), as well as having all three characteristics (O/E ratio = 3.99, 3.89–4.10 at baseline; 5.68, 5.47–5.89 at follow-up). This clustering was stronger among women than men and when unemployment was prolonged. Among individuals with ADHD, clustering of low education with disability pension and unemployment was observed.
Conclusions
Low education and unemployment appear to cluster remarkably with ADHD among young adults, more so among women and when unemployment is prolonged.
The Influence of Paternal Separation, Paternal History of Alcohol Use Disorder Risk, and Early Substance Use on Offspring Educational Attainment by Young Adulthood