Studying the Emotional Intelligence and Emotion Regulation Skills in Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Several Studies have shown that the clinical symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) include an emotional dysregulation and deficits in emotional intelligence. Present study aimed to study emotional intelligence and emotion regulation skills in adults with ADHD. Methods: Participants were 40 newly diagnosed adults with ADHD (65% female, 35% male, mean age 27.5 years, ranged from 19 to 43 years old). Symptoms were assessed using Conner’s Adult ADHD Rating Scales. The control group included 40 subjects who were selected using convenient sampling method. Both groups completed the 36-item Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the 90-item Persian version of Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i). Data were analyzed using MANOVA. Results: Findings showed that clinical group differed significantly from control subjects with respect to their overall emotion regulation skills and emotional intelligence scores (p<0.01). Conclusions: Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder had more difficulties in emotion regulation and more deficits in emotional intelligence compared to normal subjects.