A Hierarchical Dimensional Model of Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Traits Predicts Adaptive Functioning and Quality of Life in Youth

A Hierarchical Dimensional Model of Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Traits Predicts Adaptive Functioning and Quality of Life in Youth | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article A Hierarchical Dimensional Model of Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Traits Predicts Adaptive Functioning and Quality of Life in Youth Tracey Chau, Jai Carmichael, Jeggan Tiego, Miriam Forbes, Rebecca Kerestes, and 11 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8197536/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Emerging dimensional models of neurodevelopmental traits and mental health have the potential to more accurately characterise individual profiles in children and adolescents, addressing the limitations of categorical diagnoses. Here, we generated the first hierarchical, dimensional model of neurodevelopmental traits and mental health problems, derived from caregiver-reported measures, in a predominantly neurodivergent (71%) sample of N = 372 children and adolescents aged 7-13 years. We evaluated the criterion validity and utility of this model for predicting adaptive functioning and quality of life (QoL) outcomes compared with categorical diagnoses. Regression analyses identified five data-driven dimensions that significantly outperformed traditional diagnostic categories in predicting adaptive functioning and QoL outcomes. Our model offers an innovative framework for understanding neurodevelopmental and mental health profiles within neurodiverse youth. The model has the potential to advance the identification of multidisciplinary supports that could be tailored to every child’s individualised needs, regardless of diagnosis. Health sciences/Medical research/Paediatric research Health sciences/Health care/Paediatrics/Paediatric research Health sciences/Health care/Quality of life Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files NHBTransdiagnosticPaperSupplementaryMaterials.docx Supplementary Materials Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8197536","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":550500447,"identity":"7f163961-4fcd-472a-b1b5-4ed51e7bac3f","order_by":0,"name":"Tracey 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