Relationship between co-occurring autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder traits and internet addiction among college students in Japan

This study examined the association between co-occurring Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) traits and Internet addiction (IA) among college students. This cross-sectional study included 399 college students and evaluated their internet usage, the level of IA, presence of ASD traits, and presence of ADHD traits. The IA levels were measured using Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT). The presence of ASD and ADHD traits was measured using the Adult Autism Spectrum Disorders Self-Rating Scale (A-ASD) and the Adult ADHD Self-Reporting Scale (ASRS), respectively. The participants were divided into typical group, ASD traits group, ADHD traits group, and co-occurring ASD and ADHD traits group based on participants’ scores on the A-ASD and ASRS and the respective cut-off values. The data collected were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance. The group exhibiting co-occurring ASD and ADHD traits scored significantly higher on the IAT than those in the other groups, such as the ASD traits group and the ADHD traits group. Additionally, over one-third of the individuals in the co-occurring ASD and ADHD traits group spent over three hours daily on social networking sites (SNSs), compared to approximately one-sixth in the other groups. The results provide the first findings on the connections between co-occurring ASD and ADHD traits and IA in college students, which suggest that ASD and ADHD characteristics may increase the risk of IA, especially when they are co-occurring.