Sleep Quality as a Predictor of ADHD Symptoms in Children: Evidence from Parents in Irbid Governorate, Jordan

This study examined the predictive role of sleep quality in the severity of attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms among children. The sample consisted of 715 parents of school‑aged children enrolled in public schools in Irbid Governorate, Jordan. Parents completed a sleep quality scale of 24 items distributed across six subscales, and an ADHD symptoms scale of 27 items covering two domains: inattention and hyperactivity. Results indicated that children’s overall sleep quality was high, with no significant differences attributable to child gender or age. The overall level of ADHD symptoms was low; however, boys showed significantly higher ADHD symptom levels than girls. Multiple regression analyses revealed that inattention symptoms decreased by 0.533 of a standard deviation for each one‑standard‑deviation increase in sleep quality, and by 0.140 of a standard deviation in girls compared to boys. Similarly, hyperactivity symptoms decreased by 0.466 of a standard deviation for each one‑standard‑deviation increase in sleep quality, and by 0.242 of a standard deviation in girls compared to boys. These findings underscore sleep quality as a meaningful predictive factor for both inattentive and hyperactive symptomatology, with important implications for early intervention. The study recommends developing preventive guidance programs to educate parents and schools on the importance of children’s sleep routines as a low‑cost, non‑invasive approach to reducing the severity of ADHD‑related behaviors and supporting learning and classroom adjustment.