Background This study examines whether stress mediates the association between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) tendency and somatic symptoms among adolescents, and whether this association varies by household economic status.
Methods Using nationwide data from 6,689 Korean adolescents, ADHD tendency, perceived stress, somatic symptoms, and subjective household economic status were assessed using validated self-reporting scales. Multiple regression and the PROCESS Macro were applied to test the direct, mediation (Model 4), and moderated mediation effects (Model 14), controlling for gender, age, and out-of-school status. Bootstrapping was performed using 10,000 re-samples.
Results ADHD tendency was positively associated with somatic symptoms. Stress partially mediated this relationship. Stress’ effect on somatic symptoms was negatively moderated by household economic status. Consequently, ADHD tendency’s indirect effect on somatic symptoms through stress significantly varied by household economic status.
Conclusions ADHD tendency contributes to somatic symptoms through elevated stress. This process is shaped by the socioeconomic context. Interventions targeting stress reduction, particularly among economically vulnerable adolescents, may help prevent somatic symptom development.
Background This study examines the influence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity on school adjustment among adolescents and investigates the moderated mediation effect of depression on household economic status.
Methods The research hypotheses were tested using data from the Korean Teenagers’ Mental Health Study and analyzed utilizing the PROCESS Macro method.
Results Attention-deficit/hyperactivity had a significant negative impact on students’ school adjustment. Additionally, depression partially mediated the relationship between attention-deficit/hyperactivity and school adjustment. While household economic status did not moderate the influence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity on school adjustment, it did moderate the mediating effect of depression. Specifically, the mediating effect of depression on the relationship between attention-deficit/hyperactivity and school adjustment was more pronounced for adolescents from low-income households than for those from medium- or high- income households.
Conclusions This study discusses the research implications and considerations.
Citations
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The Moderated Moderation Effect of ADHD Symptoms and Self-Esteem on the Relationship between Daily Life Stress and Depression among Adolescents RaeHyuck Lee STRESS.2026; 34(1): 34. CrossRef
The Influence of ADHD Traits on School Maladjustment in Middle School Students: Focusing on the Serial Mediation Effect of Daily Life Stress and Self-Esteem RaeHyuck Lee STRESS.2026; 34(2): 63. CrossRef
Background This study investigated the influence of parenting stress among single parents on the level of Internet addiction in their adolescent children, while also considering the moderating effect of family economic status.
Methods An analysis was conducted using regression models to assess direct and moderating effects, utilizing data from the 2021 Survey of Single-parent Families, focusing on single parents with adolescent children.
Results It was observed that single parents’ parenting stress had a positive and significant influence on the level of Internet addiction seen in their adolescent children. Furthermore, this influence was observed to be even stronger when the family’s economic status was lower.
Conclusions This study empirically examined the influence of parenting and economic circumstances on the level of Internet addiction among adolescent children in single-parent families, drawing on nationally representative data. The study also underscored the need for diverse intervention strategies.