Psychometric Properties of the Chinese version of UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale.

Yingying Zhang,Chencheng Zhang,Jiang Du,Zhirong Zhou,Wenjuan Liu,Xian Qiu,Qihuan Ren,Huijing Zhou,Valerie Voon

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00185

Abstract

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale. The associations between the UPPS-P scale and impulsivity choice, gender, smoking, and drinking status were also assessed.MethodsA total of 127 adults ranging from 21 to 65 years old participated in the study. Participants were administered with the Chinese version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Impulsivity choice tasks were also tested including the Delay Discounting Task (DDT), Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), and Beads Task (Beads).ResultsA new version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale was formed that includes 40 items. The scores of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale demonstrated adequate internal consistency on five subscales but less sufficient structure validity in the present sample. In addition, positive urgency was negatively related to the Beads task; negative urgency and positive urgency were positively related to the DDT and BART. Moreover, positive and negative urgency were positively correlated with depression; all five subscales were positively correlated with anxiety; sensation seeking was higher in males than females and in alcohol drinkers than non-drinkers; and lack of premeditation and lack of perseverance were higher in nonsmokers than smokers.ConclusionsThe present study supports the reliability but not the structure validity of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale. The impulsivity personality trait assessed by the UPPS-P scale was associated with impulsivity choice, depression, anxiety, gender, and drinking and smoking status. Further studies should be conducted to explore the structure of impulsivity in the Chinese population.

Highlights

Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct that is generally characterized as a tendency to act prematurely without appropriate foresight or regard for potential consequences [1]
Negative urgency was associated with aggression and lack of premeditation, and positive urgency was associated with smoking status, while sensation seeking and lack of perseverance were associated with problematic use of alcohol [7]
positive urgency (PU) and the UPPS-P total scores had significant correlations with Delay Discounting Task (DDT), Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), and Beads; negative urgency (NU) had a significant correlation with DDT and BART; and lack of premeditation (LPM), lack of perseverance (LPS), and sensation seeking (SS) had no significant correlations with DDT, BART, and Beads

Summary

Introduction

Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct that is generally characterized as a tendency to act prematurely without appropriate foresight or regard for potential consequences [1]. The UPPS scale is based on the Five Factor Model of personality and was developed by performing an exploratory factor analysis on some of the most common impulsivity measures, through which four distinct but associated impulsivity personality facets were formed [2]. None of these four facets of impulsivity includes rash action under conditions of positive mood, which can produce increased risk behaviors. The final UPPS-P scale can measure five facets of impulsivity, which are labeled negative urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, sensation seeking, and positive urgency. The UPPS-P scale is a useful tool for understanding and predicting different dysfunctional behaviors

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion