INWARD · Internalizing Networks: Working memory, ADHD, and emotion Regulation across adolescent Development

Internalizing conditions, including anxiety and depression, are highly prevalent in adolescents with ADHD, with prevalence rates of up to 38%. This co-occurrence of conditions has detrimental effects on the individuals and their families, as it causes poorer academic and social functioning, increased levels of psychiatric hospitalization and suicidality. However, research investigating the co-occurrence is limited, where symptom-specific relations or the relative importance of each symptom is not considered. Further, empirical evidence investigating underlying processes to this co-occurrence is sparse, and causal interactions amongst the processes and both conditions are currently not assessed. INWARD aims to fill this gap by using a network analytical approach to improve our understanding of the co-occurrence between internalizing symptoms and ADHD, as well as the role of working memory (WM) and emotion regulation (ER) strategies in this co-occurrence. Combining my expertise as a clinical and experimental psychologist with strong methodological skills, with the host supervisor dr. Groenman’s strong background in ADHD research and network approaches, INWARD will offer new valuable insights into the interaction between internalizing symptoms, ADHD, WM and ER strategies. More precisely, I will investigate relations amongst individual ADHD and internalizing symptoms, using a network analytical approach. Further, I will assess the relation of WM and ER strategies with both symptom domains. To do so, I will assess both contemporary relations using questionnaire data, and longitudinal relations using ecologically momentary assessment (EMA) data. INWARD’s multimodal and network analytical approach will lead to findings that will increase our understanding of these impairing conditions. Further, this approach allows to pinpoint target processes for prevention and intervention programs, fostering well-being of the impacted families.