Academic Motivation as a Mediator between ADHD and Academic Performance at University

Torst, Sarah Neele (2025) Academic Motivation as a Mediator between ADHD and Academic Performance at University. Master thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Academic motivation has recently become a topic of interest in context of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previous research suggests it may be of particular importance to academic performance of children and adolescents with ADHD. This study aims to extend this research to university students, by investigating if academic motivation could be a mediator between ADHD and lower grades. We hypothesized that higher levels of ADHD symptoms would be negatively associated with grade point average (GPA), and with intrinsic and extrinsic motivation subtypes determined by Self-determination Theory. We further hypothesized intrinsic motivation to know (IM to know), toward accomplishment (IM to accomplish), and to experience stimulation (IM to experience), and identified, introjected, and external extrinsic motivation (EM) would be positively associated with GPA, and mediate the relationship between ADHD and GPA. We investigated a sample of 568 psychology bachelor students and tested our predictions using a parallel mediation model. Our results indicated higher levels of ADHD symptoms were associated with lower IM to know, IM to accomplish, and identified EM, but higher introjected EM, implying students with ADHD are differently motivated than their peers. The relationship between higher levels of ADHD symptoms and lower grades was partially mediated by IM to know and IM to accomplish, so these two academic motivation subtypes should be emphasized to improve academic outcomes of students with ADHD. Future research should consider longitudinal study designs to understand the directions of effects, and include additional control variables to distinguish the unique effects of ADHD at university.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Garcia Pimenta, M.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Clinical Neuropsychology (CN) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	20 May 2025 13:26
Last Modified:	20 May 2025 13:26
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4893

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