Examination of Self-Esteem and Organizational Skills Across ADHD Presentations

Presentation Type

Poster

Conference Date

Spring 4-17-2026

Abstract

Lower self-esteem and organization skills are associated with higher rates of ADHD symptoms. Previous literature has not examined how self-esteem and organizational skills among college students with ADHD vary across the three presentations, which include inattention, hyperactivity, and combined presentation. The current study investigates the relations among self-esteem and organizational skills across ADHD presentations given that each presentation experiences unique functional outcomes. Data were collected from 1,064 students (18-30 years old, mean=19.31; SD=1.783; 71.5% female) across 13 universities using an online survey. The DSM-5 ADHD Checklist measured ADHD symptoms, the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSE) measured self-esteem, and the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS) measured organizational skills. A one-way ANOVA was performed using self-esteem as the dependent variable and ADHD presentations as the fixed factor, which found significant differences across presentations (F(2, 1,065)=11.17, p< .001). Tukey’s HSD test detected significant differences in self-esteem between inattentive and hyperactive presentations (p< .001; t(1,065)=-4.346), as well as hyperactive and combined presentations (p< .001; t(1,065)=4.560). A one-way ANOVA using organizational skills as the dependent variable and ADHD presentations as the fixed factor also revealed significant differences across presentations (F(2, 1,084)=37.51; p< .001). Tukey’s HSD test found significant differences in organizational skills between inattentive and hyperactive presentations (p< .001; t(1,084) = 5.544), inattentive and combined presentations (p< .001; t(1,084)=-5.053), and hyperactive and combined presentations (p< .001; t(1,084)=-8.496). The current study provides new insight into the relation among self-esteem and organizational skills across each unique ADHD presentation, which informs intervention efforts.

Presenter

Anna Mathews

Faculty Mentor

Elia Soto

Award

3rd Place, Poster Presentations - Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts; 3rd Place, LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Academic Major

Psychology

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