Religiousness and self-control in patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Alex H.A. Begeman; Arnt Schellekens; Wim van den Brink; Csaba Barta; Christoffer Brynte; Cleo L. Crunelle; Laura De Fuentes-Merillas; Zsolt Demetrovics; Geert Dom; Johan Franck; Lara Grau; Mariely Hernandez; Romain Icick; M. Kapitány-Fövény; Frances R. Levin; Mathias Luderer; Wiebren Markus; Frieda I.A. Matthys; Franz Moggi; Michiel van Kernebeek; Jose A. Ramos-Quiroga; Ortal Slobodin; Hanneke Schaap-Jonker

doi:10.1177/00207640251331973

Religiousness and self-control in patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Alex H.A. Begeman
, Arnt Schellekens
, Wim van den Brink
, Csaba Barta
, Christoffer Brynte
, Cleo L. Crunelle
, Laura De Fuentes-Merillas
, Zsolt Demetrovics
, Geert Dom
, Johan Franck
, Lara Grau
, Mariely Hernandez
, Romain Icick
, M. Kapitány-Fövény
, Frances R. Levin
, Mathias Luderer
, Wiebren Markus
, Frieda I.A. Matthys
, Franz Moggi
, Michiel van Kernebeek

Jose A. Ramos-Quiroga, Ortal Slobodin, Hanneke Schaap-Jonker

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Religiousness has been positively associated with better mental health and stronger self-control, including in patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, data on religiousness in patients with SUD and comorbid ADHD are lacking.

Objectives: This study aims to test in patients with SUD and comorbid ADHD whether (1) religiousness is negatively associated with SUD and ADHD symptom severity, and (2) self-control mediates the assumed negative association of religiousness with SUD and ADHD symptom severity.

Method: In an international cohort study, baseline religiousness, self-control, SUD and ADHD symptom severity, and craving were assessed with self-report questionnaires and structured clinical interviews in 578 treatment-seeking SUD patients with comorbid adult ADHD (SUD + ADHD). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Results: Stronger self-control wad associated with lower severity of both ADHD and SUD, but higher religiousness was only associated with lower severity of ADHD. This association was not mediated by self-control.

Conclusion: Religiousness may have a salutary relationship with ADHD severity, but not with SUD severity. While self-control was associated with lower symptom severity for both co-occurring conditions, it may not be involved in the potentially salutary effects of religiousness in patients with SUD + ADHD.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1271-1280
Number of pages	10
Journal	International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Volume	71
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640251331973
Publication status	Published - Nov 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

ADHD
craving
Religiousness
self-control
SUD

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Begeman, A. H. A., Schellekens, A., van den Brink, W., Barta, C., Brynte, C., Crunelle, C. L., De Fuentes-Merillas, L., Demetrovics, Z., Dom, G., Franck, J., Grau, L., Hernandez, M., Icick, R., Kapitány-Fövény, M., Levin, F. R., Luderer, M., Markus, W., Matthys, F. I. A., Moggi, F., ... Schaap-Jonker, H. (2025). Religiousness and self-control in patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 71(7), 1271-1280. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640251331973

@article{0e1a22afb97a4ac48f434221b50469bc,

title = "Religiousness and self-control in patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)",

abstract = "Background: Religiousness has been positively associated with better mental health and stronger self-control, including in patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, data on religiousness in patients with SUD and comorbid ADHD are lacking. Objectives: This study aims to test in patients with SUD and comorbid ADHD whether (1) religiousness is negatively associated with SUD and ADHD symptom severity, and (2) self-control mediates the assumed negative association of religiousness with SUD and ADHD symptom severity. Method: In an international cohort study, baseline religiousness, self-control, SUD and ADHD symptom severity, and craving were assessed with self-report questionnaires and structured clinical interviews in 578 treatment-seeking SUD patients with comorbid adult ADHD (SUD + ADHD). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: Stronger self-control wad associated with lower severity of both ADHD and SUD, but higher religiousness was only associated with lower severity of ADHD. This association was not mediated by self-control. Conclusion: Religiousness may have a salutary relationship with ADHD severity, but not with SUD severity. While self-control was associated with lower symptom severity for both co-occurring conditions, it may not be involved in the potentially salutary effects of religiousness in patients with SUD + ADHD.",

keywords = "ADHD, craving, Religiousness, self-control, SUD",

author = "Begeman, \{Alex H.A.\} and Arnt Schellekens and \{van den Brink\}, Wim and Csaba Barta and Christoffer Brynte and Crunelle, \{Cleo L.\} and \{De Fuentes-Merillas\}, Laura and Zsolt Demetrovics and Geert Dom and Johan Franck and Lara Grau and Mariely Hernandez and Romain Icick and M. Kapit{\'a}ny-F{\"o}v{\'e}ny and Levin, \{Frances R.\} and Mathias Luderer and Wiebren Markus and Matthys, \{Frieda I.A.\} and Franz Moggi and \{van Kernebeek\}, Michiel and Ramos-Quiroga, \{Jose A.\} and Ortal Slobodin and Hanneke Schaap-Jonker",

year = "2025",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1177/00207640251331973",

language = "English",

volume = "71",

pages = "1271--1280",

journal = "International Journal of Social Psychiatry",

issn = "0020-7640",

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Begeman, AHA, Schellekens, A, van den Brink, W, Barta, C, Brynte, C, Crunelle, CL, De Fuentes-Merillas, L, Demetrovics, Z, Dom, G, Franck, J, Grau, L, Hernandez, M, Icick, R, Kapitány-Fövény, M, Levin, FR, Luderer, M, Markus, W, Matthys, FIA, Moggi, F, van Kernebeek, M, Ramos-Quiroga, JA, Slobodin, O & Schaap-Jonker, H 2025, 'Religiousness and self-control in patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)', International Journal of Social Psychiatry, vol. 71, no. 7, pp. 1271-1280. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640251331973

TY - JOUR

T1 - Religiousness and self-control in patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

AU - Begeman, Alex H.A.

AU - Schellekens, Arnt

AU - van den Brink, Wim

AU - Barta, Csaba

AU - Brynte, Christoffer

AU - Crunelle, Cleo L.

AU - De Fuentes-Merillas, Laura

AU - Demetrovics, Zsolt

AU - Dom, Geert

AU - Franck, Johan

AU - Grau, Lara

AU - Hernandez, Mariely

AU - Icick, Romain

AU - Kapitány-Fövény, M.

AU - Levin, Frances R.

AU - Luderer, Mathias

AU - Markus, Wiebren

AU - Matthys, Frieda I.A.

AU - Moggi, Franz

AU - van Kernebeek, Michiel

AU - Ramos-Quiroga, Jose A.

AU - Slobodin, Ortal

AU - Schaap-Jonker, Hanneke

PY - 2025/11

Y1 - 2025/11

N2 - Background: Religiousness has been positively associated with better mental health and stronger self-control, including in patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, data on religiousness in patients with SUD and comorbid ADHD are lacking. Objectives: This study aims to test in patients with SUD and comorbid ADHD whether (1) religiousness is negatively associated with SUD and ADHD symptom severity, and (2) self-control mediates the assumed negative association of religiousness with SUD and ADHD symptom severity. Method: In an international cohort study, baseline religiousness, self-control, SUD and ADHD symptom severity, and craving were assessed with self-report questionnaires and structured clinical interviews in 578 treatment-seeking SUD patients with comorbid adult ADHD (SUD + ADHD). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: Stronger self-control wad associated with lower severity of both ADHD and SUD, but higher religiousness was only associated with lower severity of ADHD. This association was not mediated by self-control. Conclusion: Religiousness may have a salutary relationship with ADHD severity, but not with SUD severity. While self-control was associated with lower symptom severity for both co-occurring conditions, it may not be involved in the potentially salutary effects of religiousness in patients with SUD + ADHD.

AB - Background: Religiousness has been positively associated with better mental health and stronger self-control, including in patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, data on religiousness in patients with SUD and comorbid ADHD are lacking. Objectives: This study aims to test in patients with SUD and comorbid ADHD whether (1) religiousness is negatively associated with SUD and ADHD symptom severity, and (2) self-control mediates the assumed negative association of religiousness with SUD and ADHD symptom severity. Method: In an international cohort study, baseline religiousness, self-control, SUD and ADHD symptom severity, and craving were assessed with self-report questionnaires and structured clinical interviews in 578 treatment-seeking SUD patients with comorbid adult ADHD (SUD + ADHD). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results: Stronger self-control wad associated with lower severity of both ADHD and SUD, but higher religiousness was only associated with lower severity of ADHD. This association was not mediated by self-control. Conclusion: Religiousness may have a salutary relationship with ADHD severity, but not with SUD severity. While self-control was associated with lower symptom severity for both co-occurring conditions, it may not be involved in the potentially salutary effects of religiousness in patients with SUD + ADHD.

KW - ADHD

KW - craving

KW - Religiousness

KW - self-control

KW - SUD

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105008060329

U2 - 10.1177/00207640251331973

DO - 10.1177/00207640251331973

M3 - Article

C2 - 40509713

AN - SCOPUS:105008060329

SN - 0020-7640

VL - 71

SP - 1271

EP - 1280

JO - International Journal of Social Psychiatry

JF - International Journal of Social Psychiatry

IS - 7

ER -

Religiousness and self-control in patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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