Relationships Between Executive Functioning Deficits Related to ADHD and Mindfulness

This study investigated the relationship(s) between deficits of executive functioning ability and mindfulness as measured by Barkley's Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS) and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) respectively. ADHD is a disorder affecting millions of individuals, including children. Currently it is the most diagnosed of all childhood psychological disorders with about half of those diagnosed continuing to experience symptoms into adulthood (CDC, 2010). The psychological construct of ADHD has been redefined recently by Barkley, opening the door for new conceptualization and treatment options (Barkley 2012). ADHD has been described as being synonymous with deficits in EF (Barkley, 2012). The current study's purpose was to evaluate the relationship(s) that exist between deficits of EF and mindfulness as evaluated by two prominent measures. Findings of the current study suggest mindfulness is related to EF ability, regardless of ADHD status. Mindfulness, as measured by higher scores on the FFMQ, appears to predict fewer EF deficits, and lower total scores on the BDEFS. The current study also examined if gender or ADHD status might influence the relationship between ADHD and mindfulness and concluded that they do not. Finally, the study also evaluated if the FFMQ could predict ADHD status as accurately as the BDEFS. The research findings indicate that both measures are significant predictors of ADHD, with the BDEFS being slightly higher (77% compared to 66%). This study supports the notion that mindfulness training might represent a viable treatment option for those with ADHD.