Risks,Resources,and Sense of Coherence Among College Students With Learning Disabilities and/or Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder

Abstract

Students with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) often face numerous challenges and possess fewer coping resources than their typical peers. This study explored how ego depletion, anxiety, perceived social support, and hope predict sense of coherence (SOC) among students with and without NDDs during contextual stress. The sample comprised 347 students (M = 27.6 years, SD = 6.02; 75.5% female), including 97 (28%) with NDDs diagnosis (learning disorder and/or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Participants completed self-report measures of perceived social support, SOC, hope, ego depletion, and generalized anxiety. Compared to students without NDDs, NDD students reported lower SOC and hope but higher perceived social support, ego depletion, and anxiety. Perceived social support, hope, ego depletion, and anxiety sequentially mediated the relationship between group status and SOC. Although social support and hope acted as protective factors linked to higher SOC, students with NDDs still experienced greater ego depletion and anxiety. These findings highlight the interplay between interpersonal and intrapersonal resources in maintaining SOC.