Impulsivity and adolescent relationships: Negative urgency predicts interpersonal problems in youth

Abstract

Though commonly discussed in regard to risky behavior and psychopathology, negative urgency should also play a role in common behaviors and problems. The present study explored negative urgency in relation to a common problem among adolescents: difficulty in interpersonal relationships. Since negative emotions precede action among individuals high in negative urgency, we investigated the role of depressive symptoms in this association. A sample of 272 youth (M = 11.75 years, SD = 0.93, 79.78% female) completed self-report measures of negative urgency, depressive symptoms, and interpersonal problems with peers, mothers, and fathers at two time points. Negative urgency cross-sectionally predicted interpersonal problems with peers and mothers, but not fathers. A heightened level of depressive symptoms among negatively urgent youth explained this effect and continued to show significant indirect associations with urgency and peer relationships four months later. Negative urgency appears to represent a global disposition, linked with interpersonal problems across multiple relationships.