Final answer:
The dangers of multitasking include cognitive and physical issues such as balance and posture problems, difficulty in execution of tasks, and personality changes, as well as exacerbation of disorders like ADHD, depression, and OCD. Excessive multitasking can also lead to stress-inducing behaviors and the risk increase typical of sleep deprivation effects. The correct answer is a. ADHD.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some of the dangers cited in articles about multitasking include balance and posture problems, repetitive motor behaviors, difficulty with planning and executing tasks, poor judgment, and personality changes. In addition to these physical and cognitive issues, there are various disorders that can co-occur with multitasking and overextension, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Moreover, multitasking can lead to behaviors that indirectly increase risks, such as adrenaline seeking through dangerous activities or the creation of stress by taking on too much work.
ADHD affects approximately three to five percent of children and adults, often with a higher prevalence in males, and can lead to inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Patients diagnosed with ADHD might develop secondary disorders, including depression and OCD, which can compound the already existing challenges of the disorder. Therefore, multitasking can exacerbate these symptoms and lead to further deterioration in the ability to function effectively in daily tasks. Continued stress from multitasking and lack of proper sleep can prompt behaviors akin to those seen in sleep deprivation, such as irritability, distractibility, impairments in cognitive and moral judgment, and in extreme cases, hallucinations after long periods without sleep. This points to the essential need for balanced workload management to avoid the consequential dangers to mental and physical health. So, the correct answer is a) ADHD.