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Published in: ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders 1/2019

Open Access 01-03-2019 | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder | Original Article

Prospective memory (partially) mediates the link between ADHD symptoms and procrastination

Authors: Mareike Altgassen, Anouk Scheres, Marc-Andreas Edel

Published in: ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often show poor planning and poor organization of tasks and activities which has been related to reduced memory for delayed intentions (prospective memory) and procrastination—in addition to other cognitive or motivational factors. This study set out to bring the fields of prospective memory and procrastination research together and to explore possible relations between the two constructs in ADHD. Twenty-nine adults with ADHD and 24 healthy controls performed several laboratory-based and real-life prospective memory tasks and filled in questionnaires measuring their symptom severity and procrastination behaviour. Overall, individuals’ with ADHD showed clear deficits in everyday prospective memory performance. Individuals with ADHD recalled and executed less of their own real-life intentions. Moreover, there were clear links between everyday prospective memory performance and reported procrastination behaviour, and everyday prospective memory performance mediated the link between ADHD symptoms and procrastination behaviour.
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Metadata
Title
Prospective memory (partially) mediates the link between ADHD symptoms and procrastination
Authors
Mareike Altgassen
Anouk Scheres
Marc-Andreas Edel
Publication date
01-03-2019
Publisher
Springer Vienna
Published in
ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1866-6116
Electronic ISSN: 1866-6647
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-018-0273-x

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