Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder with prevalence rates in school-aged children ranging from 5-10%. Although not part of the current diagnostic framework, literature has consistently demonstrated that individuals with ADHD often encounter difficulties in the experience and regulation of negative emotions, including experiences of anger and hostility. This relationship has been associated with ADHD symptom severity.

Additionally, literature in the ADHD domain has established a clear relationship between ADHD and childhood trauma with individuals diagnosed with ADHD being at greater risk for experiencing childhood traumas. Further, childhood traumas have been associated with elevated rates of negative emotionality.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between adolescent ADHD severity and retrospective report of childhood trauma in relation to late adolescent negative emotionality. Eighty-nine individuals with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD (mean age = 9.05 years, SD = 1.28), were seen at follow-up on average 9.30 (SD = 1.65) years later. Eighty- five non-ADHD controls were recruited at follow-up from similar demographic backgrounds.

Relative to the comparison group, individuals diagnosed with ADHD had higher levels of emotional or physical abuse, and late adolescent anger and hostility. Mediation analyses revealed that the relationship between ADHD diagnostic status and adolescent anger and hostility was best explained by adolescent ADHD severity. Moderation analyses revealed that both emotional and physical abuse were independently associated with late adolescent negative emotionality. An interaction was revealed such that physical abuse was most predictive of anger when ADHD symptoms were low. Findings indicate that both ADHD severity and childhood abuse are independent predictors of late adolescent anger and hostility.