What is a significant risk factor for both depression and substance abuse among adolescents?

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a significant risk factor for both depression and substance abuse among adolescents. Individuals with ADHD often experience difficulties with attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity, which can lead to academic challenges, social difficulties, and low self-esteem. These challenges can contribute to feelings of frustration and inadequacy, increasing the risk of developing depression.

Moreover, adolescents with ADHD may be more likely to engage in substance use as a coping mechanism to alleviate their symptoms or to fit in with peers. They might struggle with impulsivity, making them more prone to experimentation with substances. The interplay of impulsive behavior and emotional struggles heightens the vulnerability to both depression and substance abuse, establishing a connection between these conditions in this population.

The other options, while they can also be associated with mental health issues or substance abuse, do not have the same level of established correlation with the specific combination of depression and substance use disorders in adolescents as ADHD does.