Date of Award

12-20-2024

Date Published

January 2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Advisor(s)

Kevin Antshel

Second Advisor

Andrew London

Keywords

ADHD;college students;resource use;self-esteem;test accommodations;test anxiety

Subject Categories

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

College students with ADHD face several challenges in pursuit of higher education, including lower self-esteem, higher test anxiety, and increased risk for negative academic outcomes (lower GPA). Despite these challenges, a surprisingly small proportion (e.g., 54.4%) of this population utilize resources that could benefit them (e.g., disability accommodations, academic supports, medication, therapy). This study aimed to substantiate findings regarding lower self-esteem and higher test anxiety in college students with elevated ADHD symptoms and investigate self-esteem and test anxiety as factors associated with resource use for students with ADHD diagnoses. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 4,195 undergraduate students (278 with self-reported ADHD diagnoses) recruited from eight universities. Participants completed virtual self-report measures regarding current ADHD symptoms and diagnosis, college resource use, self-esteem, and test anxiety. Linear regression analyses revealed that ADHD symptoms were negatively associated with self-esteem and positively associated with test anxiety. Self-esteem was negatively associated with test anxiety, but ADHD symptoms did not moderate this relationship. Additionally, in college students with ADHD diagnoses, linear regressions did not find a significant association between self-esteem or test anxiety with resource use, and test anxiety did not moderate the non-significant relationship between self-esteem and resource use. These findings suggest it may be helpful for clinicians to consider screening for low self-esteem and high test anxiety when working with college students with ADHD or reporting higher ADHD symptoms.

Access

Open Access

Available for download on Friday, January 23, 2026

Included in

Psychology Commons

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