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ADHD-like symptoms are prevalent among Egyptian university students and are associated with obesity, smoking, sleep disorders, childhood trauma, and mental health history, while regular exercise is protective.

In a cross-sectional study of 2,383 Egyptian university students, the prevalence of ADHD-like symptoms was 37.9% (95% CI: 36.0%-39.9%). Significant associations were found with obesity (OR=2.09), smoking (OR=1.93), sleep disorders (OR=2.12), childhood trauma (OR=1.42), and mental health history (OR=1.71), while regular exercise reduced odds (OR=0.55).

Last updated: Aug 27, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and associated factors among university students in Egypt: a cross-sectional study.

observational

El-Farargy SH, Fawzy AM, Elgammal AS, Mostafa HA, Husain MA, Ali HT, Abdelmonim GA · Scientific reports (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: Not specified (cross-sectional)
Intervention: None (observational study)
Outcome: Prevalence of ADHD-like symptoms (ASRS positivity) and associated factors
Effect Size: OR=2.09 for obesity, OR=1.93 for smoking, OR=2.12 for sleep disorders, OR=1.42 for childhood trauma, OR=1.71 for mental health history, OR=0.55 for regular exercise
Population: Egyptian university students aged 18 years or older

Result:

PubMed: 42642465DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-63835-y

Mechanism Graph

ADHD symptoms are associated with neurodevelopmental and psychosocial factors.
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Sleep disorders may exacerbate ADHD symptoms through impaired executive function.
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Obesity and smoking may share underlying dopaminergic dysregulation with ADHD.
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Childhood trauma and mental health history may contribute to symptom manifestation.
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Regular exercise may improve attention and reduce symptom severity.

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference.
  • ⚠Convenience sampling may limit generalizability to all Egyptian university students.
  • ⚠Self-reported ADHD symptoms (ASRS) may overestimate clinical ADHD diagnosis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the prevalence of ADHD symptoms among Egyptian university students?▼

The prevalence was 37.9% (95% CI: 36.0%-39.9%) based on the ASRS.

Which factors are associated with higher ADHD symptom risk?▼

Obesity, smoking, sleep disorders, childhood trauma, and history of mental health conditions were associated with higher odds.

Does exercise reduce ADHD symptoms?▼

Regular exercise was associated with 45% lower odds of ADHD symptoms (OR=0.55).

What screening tool was used?▼

The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS).

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References

  1. 1.El-Farargy SH, Fawzy AM, Elgammal AS, Mostafa HA, Husain MA, Ali HT, Abdelmonim GA. "Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and associated factors among university students in Egypt: a cross-sectional study.." Scientific reports, 2026. PMID: 42642465 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-63835-y
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.