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Associations Between Physical Activity and ADHD in Adults: Investigating Determinants of Behaviour, Challenges, and Considerations for Implementation / RORY TUCKER

Swansea University Author: RORY TUCKER

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DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.69766

Abstract

Physical Activity (PA) and/or Physical Exercise (PE), is increasingly being considered as an adjunct/alternative treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactive disorder (ADHD). Emerging evidence suggests that PA/PE may help alleviate ADHD symptoms, but most research has focused on children and males, l...

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Published: Swansea, Wales, UK 2025
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Reed, Phil ; Williams, Claire
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69766
first_indexed 2025-06-18T14:41:47Z
last_indexed 2025-06-19T10:47:23Z
id cronfa69766
recordtype RisThesis
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spelling 2025-06-18T16:32:43.7586171 v2 69766 2025-06-18 Associations Between Physical Activity and ADHD in Adults: Investigating Determinants of Behaviour, Challenges, and Considerations for Implementation 96493e2261a7fcd53950db98c60cf6f5 RORY TUCKER RORY TUCKER true false 2025-06-18 Physical Activity (PA) and/or Physical Exercise (PE), is increasingly being considered as an adjunct/alternative treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactive disorder (ADHD). Emerging evidence suggests that PA/PE may help alleviate ADHD symptoms, but most research has focused on children and males, leaving adults underrepresented. This thesis addressed this gap by investigating the associations between physical activity and ADHD in Adults. A cross-sectional study (Chapter Two) found no significant overall negative relationship between PA and total ADHD symptomatology, but results varied by ADHD subtype and demographics. The correlation was significant in subclinical ADHD and female groups, and for the general sample for specific subsets of PA (PE) and ADHD symptomatology (inattentive ADHD). To address specificity issues around measuring motivation, Chapter Three adopted a Self Determination Theory perspective, also investigating links with Exercise Dependence (ED). ADHD was associated with reduced intrinsic PE motivation (particularly inattentive ADHD) and increased ED (particularly hyperactive ADHD). Chapter Four explored barriers to PE, finding that adults with subclinical ADHD experienced greater levels of specific barriers - Motivation; Beliefs about Capabilities; Skills; Emotion; Action planning; Coping planning; Goal conflict, and Social) - than non-ADHD adults. To investigate how PE interventions might overcome these barriers, Chapter Five investigated the effects of a home-based PE intervention on executive functions linked to ADHD. Limited effectiveness was found, possibly due to a lack of power and experimental control. Overall, these findings suggest that ADHD is associated with reduced PE; reduced intrinsic PE motivation; increased ED risk and increased barriers to PE. These findings can help inform and optimise PE-based interventions by promoting intrinsic motivation; targeting specific PE barriers; controlling and monitoring risk factors for ED; and prioritising certain treatment for symptom presentations/populations. This work adds to the growing body of research on PA on ADHD, offering insights for PE-based treatment design and implementation. E-Thesis Swansea, Wales, UK Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; ADHD; Physical Activity; Physical Exercise; Adult Population; Underdiagnosed Populations; Theoretical Domains Framework; Self Determination Theory; Exercise Dependence; Determinants of Behaviour 6 6 2025 2025-06-06 10.23889/SUthesis.69766 ORCiD identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2219-7871 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Reed, Phil ; Williams, Claire Doctoral Ph.D 2025-06-18T16:32:43.7586171 2025-06-18T15:38:17.5389875 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology RORY TUCKER 1 69766__34515__da71ddf4121d4b22bb6095ba31674cc7.pdf Tucker_Rory_L_PhD_Thesis_Final_Cronfa.pdf 2025-06-18T15:50:54.7857154 Output 2713923 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true Copyright: The Author, Rory L. Tucker, 2025. true eng
title Associations Between Physical Activity and ADHD in Adults: Investigating Determinants of Behaviour, Challenges, and Considerations for Implementation
spellingShingle Associations Between Physical Activity and ADHD in Adults: Investigating Determinants of Behaviour, Challenges, and Considerations for Implementation
RORY TUCKER
title_short Associations Between Physical Activity and ADHD in Adults: Investigating Determinants of Behaviour, Challenges, and Considerations for Implementation
title_full Associations Between Physical Activity and ADHD in Adults: Investigating Determinants of Behaviour, Challenges, and Considerations for Implementation
title_fullStr Associations Between Physical Activity and ADHD in Adults: Investigating Determinants of Behaviour, Challenges, and Considerations for Implementation
title_full_unstemmed Associations Between Physical Activity and ADHD in Adults: Investigating Determinants of Behaviour, Challenges, and Considerations for Implementation
title_sort Associations Between Physical Activity and ADHD in Adults: Investigating Determinants of Behaviour, Challenges, and Considerations for Implementation
author_id_str_mv 96493e2261a7fcd53950db98c60cf6f5
author_id_fullname_str_mv 96493e2261a7fcd53950db98c60cf6f5_***_RORY TUCKER
author RORY TUCKER
author2 RORY TUCKER
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publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUthesis.69766
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
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description Physical Activity (PA) and/or Physical Exercise (PE), is increasingly being considered as an adjunct/alternative treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactive disorder (ADHD). Emerging evidence suggests that PA/PE may help alleviate ADHD symptoms, but most research has focused on children and males, leaving adults underrepresented. This thesis addressed this gap by investigating the associations between physical activity and ADHD in Adults. A cross-sectional study (Chapter Two) found no significant overall negative relationship between PA and total ADHD symptomatology, but results varied by ADHD subtype and demographics. The correlation was significant in subclinical ADHD and female groups, and for the general sample for specific subsets of PA (PE) and ADHD symptomatology (inattentive ADHD). To address specificity issues around measuring motivation, Chapter Three adopted a Self Determination Theory perspective, also investigating links with Exercise Dependence (ED). ADHD was associated with reduced intrinsic PE motivation (particularly inattentive ADHD) and increased ED (particularly hyperactive ADHD). Chapter Four explored barriers to PE, finding that adults with subclinical ADHD experienced greater levels of specific barriers - Motivation; Beliefs about Capabilities; Skills; Emotion; Action planning; Coping planning; Goal conflict, and Social) - than non-ADHD adults. To investigate how PE interventions might overcome these barriers, Chapter Five investigated the effects of a home-based PE intervention on executive functions linked to ADHD. Limited effectiveness was found, possibly due to a lack of power and experimental control. Overall, these findings suggest that ADHD is associated with reduced PE; reduced intrinsic PE motivation; increased ED risk and increased barriers to PE. These findings can help inform and optimise PE-based interventions by promoting intrinsic motivation; targeting specific PE barriers; controlling and monitoring risk factors for ED; and prioritising certain treatment for symptom presentations/populations. This work adds to the growing body of research on PA on ADHD, offering insights for PE-based treatment design and implementation.
published_date 2025-06-06T05:27:49Z
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score 11.089572

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