UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale Research Articles

A four-factor model of executive function: Predicting physical and academic outcomes from cognitive assessments in adolescents

Impulsivity and cognitive function are essential for understanding behavioral regulation, particularly in relation to health-risk behaviors like substance use, physical activity, and academic performance. This study examined the factor structure underlying executive function in adolescents using the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale and NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery. We explored how parental monitoring moderates, and peer network health and perceived stress mediate, relationships between cognitive function and outcomes such as BMI, physical activity, and academic performance. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on 2228 observations identified a four-factor model (BIC = −97.92, RMSEA = 0.040, TLI = 0.936), validated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (CFI = 0.961, RMSEA = 0.055). Structural equation modeling (SEM) on 5902 observations showed that parental monitoring moderated Factor 1 (adaptive impulsivity) in relation to physical activity and academic performance, while peer network health mediated Factor 2 (emotional impulsivity) effects on BMI and physical activity. This model underscores the influence of peer relationships, parental involvement, and stress on cognitive, health, and academic outcomes, suggesting that interventions enhancing peer support, reducing stress, and promoting healthy behaviors may improve adolescent well-being.

The effects of hypothetical psychological interventions on alcohol use in European young adults

Abstract Background Low psychosocial well-being (PWB) and high emotion-driven impulsiveness (EDI) are associated with alcohol. Yet, it is unclear whether a hypothetical intervention targeting one or the other in adolescence might be more effective in reducing alcohol consumption (AC) in young adulthood. Therefore, we aimed to compare the separate causal effects of PWB and EDI in adolescence on AC in young adulthood. Methods We included 505 European young adults from the IDEFICS/I.Family cohort (mean age: 20.2 years; age range: 18.2-23.5 years) who did not drink alcohol at study entry. AC was operationalized as the amount of weekly consumed alcoholic beverages (mean: 4.2 drinks per week; range: 0.3-70 drinks per week). EDI was assessed using the negative urgency subscale from the UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale. PWB was assessed using the KINDLR Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire. Following the principles of target trial emulation, we estimated, separately, the average causal effects of PWB and EDI on AC accounting for relevant confounders and applying a semi-parametric doubly robust method (targeted maximum likelihood estimation). We stratified the results by sex and parental education. Results If all adolescents, hypothetically, had high levels of PWB, compared to low levels, we estimated a decrease in the average amount of alcoholic beverages in young adulthood by 0.1 drinks per week [95%-confidence interval: -2.3; 2.1]. Furthermore, if all adolescents had low levels of EDI, compared to high levels, we estimated an increase in alcoholic beverages in young adulthood by 1.5 drinks per week [0.1; 2.9]. Different effects for sex and parental education groups were found. Conclusions Hypothetical interventions targeting PWB in adolescents were not found to have effects on reducing AC in young adulthood. Interventions targeting EDI, however, would lead to an increase in AC. This may be due to unmeasured confounding and the missing distinction between drinking motives. Key messages • We demonstrate that causal inference methods, compared to traditional ones, improve the robustness of estimated effect measures and address important sources of bias in European cohort data. • To inform public health interventions on reducing alcohol consumption, future research should investigate different drinking motives, e.g. alleviating negative emotions or enhancing positive emotions.

Negative and positive urgency as pathways in the intergenerational transmission of suicide risk in childhood.

Parental suicide attempts and suicide death increase suicide risk in their offspring. High levels of impulsivity have been observed in families at high risk for suicide. Impulsivity, a highly heritable trait that is especially elevated in childhood, is frequently measured with the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, which includes negative urgency, positive urgency, sensation seeking, premeditation, and perseverance. Our study examined the association between the UPPS-P facets and suicide ideation (without suicide attempts) and suicide attempts at baseline and first-time endorsement within the next two years in childhood. We also examined how the UPPS-P facets mediated the association between parental suicide attempts and suicide death and offspring first-time suicide ideation and attempts at follow-up. The sample was 9,194 children (48.4% female; 9-10 years old) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, assessed yearly three times. At Time 1 (T1), caregivers reported on suicide attempts and suicide deaths (combined) of the biological parents. Caregivers and children reported on suicide ideation and attempts in the KSADS-PL DSM-5 at each time point, T1 and follow-up (T2 and/or T3). The Short UPPS-P Scale (child-report) assessed the impulsivity facets at T1, which were computed as latent variables. At T1, 6.7% of children had a parent who had attempted or died by suicide. Most UPPS-P facets were associated with suicide ideation and attempts at T1 and T2/T3. In adjusted models, parental suicide attempts and suicide death were associated with offspring negative and positive urgency. In mediation models, parental suicide attempts and suicide death had an indirect effect on offspring first-time suicide ideation at T2/T3 through negative urgency (OR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08) and positive urgency (OR = 1.03, 95% CI, 1.01-1.05). Similar results were found for first-time suicide attempts at T2/T3. Our findings support an impulsive pathway in the familial transmission of suicide risk. For all youth, interventions that target multiple UPPS-P facets may help prevent or reduce suicide risk. For offspring whose parents have attempted or died by suicide, clinicians should pay particular attention to children who impulsively act on extreme emotions, as they may be at higher suicide risk.

Psychometric Properties and Normative Data of the Spanish UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale in Adolescents

Impulsivity is a multidimensional construct linked to a broad spectrum of psychopathological and neuropsychological disorders. The UPPS-P model has emerged as a valuable tool for assessing impulsivity from a multi-dimensional perspective. Despite its relevance, few studies have examined the psychometric properties of the UPPS-P scale scores in a large, representative sample of adolescents. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish UPPS-P in adolescents and to establish normative data for this population in Spain. To this end, 9024 students aged 11-19 from 66 different Spanish high schools were included. The fit for the expected 5-factor model, assessed through confirmatory factor analysis, was inadequate (CFI and TLI ≤ .85, RMSEA = .063), but becomes satisfactory when employing the more flexible ESEM approach (CFI and TLI ≥ .94, RMSEA = .038), which was invariant across gender and age. Internal consistency reliability was satisfactory (ω = .83 to .94). Convergent validity with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-A total score was good (r = .53 to .60). We provide population norms of the UPPS-P, which may help practitioners to interpret the UPPS-P scores of adolescents from the general population in Spain. Subsequent research should explore implications for both clinical and non-clinical settings.

Evaluating the factor structure and measurement invariance of the 20-item short version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale across multiple countries, languages, and gender identities.

The UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Model and the various psychometric instruments developed and validated based on this model are well established in clinical and research settings. However, evidence regarding the psychometric validity, reliability, and equivalence across multiple countries of residence, languages, or gender identities, including gender-diverse individuals, is lacking to date. Using data from the International Sex Survey (N = 82,243), confirmatory factor analyses and measurement invariance analyses were performed on the preestablished five-factor structure of the 20-item short version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale to examine whether (a) psychometric validity and reliability and (b) psychometric equivalence hold across 34 country-of-residence-related, 22 language-related, and three gender-identity-related groups. The results of the present study extend the latter psychometric instrument's well-established relevance to 26 countries, 13 languages, and three gender identities. Most notably, psychometric validity and reliability were evidenced across nine novel translations included in the present study (i.e., Croatian, English, German, Hebrew, Korean, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese-Portugal, and Spanish-Latin American) and psychometric equivalence was evidenced across all three gender identities included in the present study (i.e., women, men, and gender-diverse individuals).

The impact of negative urgency on implicit mobile phone addiction tendency among college freshmen in the context of social exclusion.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of negative urgency on implicit mobile phone addiction tendency among college freshmen, and to observe whether social exclusion situations affect the relationship between negative urgency and implicit mobile phone addiction tendency. The UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale was used to screen 575 freshmen from a certain university. The experiment utilized a GO/NO-GO paradigm. Experiment 1 employed a 2 (negative urgency group: high negative urgency group, low negative urgency group) × 2 (word type: phone related words, phone non-related words) two-factor mixed experimental design. Experiment 2 employed a 2 (negative urgency group: high negative urgency group, low negative urgency group) × 2 (social exclusion type: priming group, non-priming group) × 2 (word type: phone related words, phone non-related words) three-factor mixed experimental design. Experiment 1 results showed a significant main effect of negative urgency group and a significant interaction effect between negative urgency group and word type. Experiment 2 results demonstrated a significant main effect of negative urgency group and a significant main effect of social exclusion type. There was a significant interaction effect between word type and social exclusion type, as well as between word type and negative urgency group. The three-way interaction effect among negative urgency group, word type, and social exclusion type was significant. College freshmen with high negative urgency exhibit a higher tendency toward implicit mobile phone addiction. In social exclusion situations, college freshmen show a higher tendency toward implicit smartphone addiction. Social exclusion situations and negative urgency jointly influence the implicit mobile phone addiction tendency of college freshmen.

Validation of the German long and short versions of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale.

The UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale is a widely used self-report measure of impulsivity, but there is currently no validated German version that includes the Positive Urgency scale. We combined existing German translations of UPPS scales and included the Positive Urgency dimension to validate the UPPS-P in a sample of 399 participants. In addition, we developed a revised short version of the UPPS-P (SUPPS-P) with 20 items and conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to verify the structure in an independent validation sample with 349 participants. To determine evidence of convergent and discriminant validity, we used measures of impulsivity, depression, anxiety, stress, problematic alcohol and substance use. CFA of the five factorial structure of the UPPS-P demonstrated acceptable fits and evidence of validity and reliability for the subscales. Psychometric characteristics of the SUPPS-P using the original item configuration were not satisfactory. As a result, we developed a revised German version of the SUPPS-P and confirmed the five-factor structure using a CFA in the validation sample. For the revised version, model fits and evidence of validity and internal consistencies were good. Associations with other constructs were as expected. For example, whereas Sensation Seeking was associated moderately with problematic alcohol use, lacking associations of Lack of Premeditation to internalizing symptoms showed evidence of discriminant validity. The German translations of both UPPS-P and SUPPS-P are valid tools for measuring impulsive behaviors. They are well-suited for exploring the associations between different facets of impulsivity and psychopathological phenomena.

Associations between behavioral and self-reported impulsivity, brain structure, and genetic influences in middle childhood

Impulsivity undergoes a normative developmental trajectory from childhood to adulthood and is thought to be driven by maturation of brain structure. However, few large-scale studies have assessed associations between impulsivity, brain structure, and genetic susceptibility in children. In 9112 children ages 9–10 from the ABCD study, we explored relationships among impulsivity (UPPS-P impulsive behavior scale; delay discounting), brain structure (cortical thickness (CT), cortical volume (CV), and cortical area (CA)), and polygenic scores for externalizing behavior (PGSEXT). Both higher UPPS-P total scores and more severe delay-discounting had widespread, low-magnitude associations with smaller CA in frontal and temporal regions. No associations were seen between impulsivity and CV or CT. Additionally, higher PGSEXT was associated with both higher UPPS-P scores and with smaller CA and CV in frontal and temporal regions, but in non-overlapping cortical regions, underscoring the complex interplay between genetics and brain structure in influencing impulsivity. These findings indicate that, within large-scale population data, CA is significantly yet weakly associated with each of these impulsivity measures and with polygenic risk for externalizing behaviors, but in distinct brain regions. Future work should longitudinally assess these associations through adolescence, and examine associated functional outcomes, such as future substance use and psychopathology.

The mediating effect of dispositional mindfulness on the association between UPPS-P impulsivity traits and gaming disorder among Asia-Pacific young adults

BackgroundLittle evidence is available to verify the mediating effect of dispositional mindfulness on the association between gaming disorder and various impulsivity traits. The present study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of dispositional mindfulness on the association between the five UPPS-P impulsivity traits and the risk of gaming disorder among young adults.MethodsIt was an inter-regional cross-sectional study using online survey in Australia, Japan, The Philippines and China. Impulsivity measured by the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale–Short version; dispositional mindfulness measured by the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale; and the risk of gaming disorder measured by the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale were collected in the focal regions. Structural equation modeling was performed by SPSS AMOS version 26 to verify the study hypotheses. Bootstrapped 95% confidence interval was reported. Statistical significance was indicated by the p-value below 0.05.ResultsAmong the 1,134 returned questionnaires, about 40% of them aged 18–20 years and 21–23 years, respectively. 53.8% were male. 40.7% had been playing digital and video games for over 10 years. The prevalence of gaming disorder was 4.32%. The model fitness indices reflected that the constructed model had an acceptable model fit (χ2(118) = 558.994, p < 0.001; χ2/df = 4.737; CFI = 0.924; TLI = 0.890; GFI = 0.948; RMSEA = 0.058; SRMR = 0.0487). Dispositional mindfulness fully mediated the effect of positive urgency and negative urgency on the risk of gaming disorder. The effect of lack of premeditation on the risk of gaming disorder was partially mediated by dispositional mindfulness. However, dispositional mindfulness did not mediate the effect of sensation seeking on the risk of gaming disorder.ConclusionsThe varied associations between dispositional mindfulness and the five impulsivity traits hints that improving some impulsive traits may increase dispositional mindfulness and so lower the risk of gaming disorder. Despite further studies are needed to verify the present findings, it sheds light on the need to apply interventions on gamers based on their impulsivity profile. Interventions targeting at emotion regulation and self-control such as mindfulness-based interventions seem to be effective to help gamers with dominant features of urgency and lack of premeditation only. Other interventions shall be considered for gamers with high sensation seeking tendency to enhance the effectiveness of gaming disorder prevention.

An examination of state and trait urgency in individuals with binge-eating disorder.

Negative urgency (i.e., acting rashly when experiencing negative affect; NU), is a theorised maintenance factor in binge-eating type eating disorders. This study examined the association between trait NU and eating disorder severity, momentary changes in state NU surrounding episodes of binge eating, and the momentary mechanistic link between affect, rash action, and binge-eating risk. Participants were 112 individuals with binge-eating disorder (BED). Baseline measures included the UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale to assess trait NU and the Eating Disorders Examination to assess binge-eating frequency and global eating disorder severity. Ecological momentary assessment captured real-time data on binge eating, negative affect, and state NU. Multiple regression analysis revealed a strong association between trait NU and eating disorder severity. Generalised estimating equations showed that state NU increased before and decreased after binge-eating episodes, and that this pattern was not moderated by trait-level NU. Finally, a multilevel structural equation model indicated that increases in rash action mediated the momentary relationship between states of high negative affect and episodes of binge eating. These findings underscore the importance of both trait and state NU in binge-eating type eating disorders, and suggest NU as a potential key target for intervention.

Effects of yoga on impulsivity in patients with and without mental disorders: a systematic review

BackgroundYoga can be used as a complementary intervention to conventional treatments, whether pharmacological or non-pharmacological. Sustained practice of yoga can generate a series of benefits for individuals' quality of life and improve their physical fitness.ObjectiveTo investigate the potential effects of yoga as an adjunct intervention in conditions involving impulse control issues, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), borderline personality disorder, bipolar affective disorder, and substance use disorders.MethodsWe performed a systematic review of placebo-controlled, randomized trials of yoga in patients with impulsivity. PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases were searched for trials published up to January, 2023. Data were extracted from published reports and quality assessment was performed per Cochrane recommendations.ResultsOut of 277 database results, 6 RCT were included in this systematic review. To assess the level of attention and impulsiveness, the following scales were analyzed: Barratt Impulsiveness, UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior scale, Conners’ Continuous Performance Test IIª and Conners’ Parent Rating Scale–Revised: Long.ConclusionsYoga didn’t have a significant improvement in impulsivity when compared to placebo. There are many tools to assess impulsivity, but they mean different concepts and domains consisting in a weakness on comparison of yoga effects.PROSPERO registrationCRD42023389088.

Stressful Life Events, Sleep Quality and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Effect of Sensation Seeking.

Despite the growing evidence that stressful life events are associated with adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), few studies have investigated the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this link. The current study examined whether sleep quality mediated the link between stressful life events and NSSI and whether this mediating process was moderated by adolescent sensation seeking. The participants were 1006 Chinese adolescents (48.21% boys; mean age = 13.16 years, SD = 0.67). They completed the Life Events Checklist, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, and NSSI Questionnaire. The PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to examine the hypothesized moderated mediation model. The results showed that sleep quality significantly mediated the positive association between stressful life events and adolescent NSSI. Moreover, this mediating pathway was moderated by sensation seeking. Specifically, the risk impact of stressful life events on NSSI through sleep quality was significant only among adolescents with high-level sensation seeking but not among those with low-level sensation seeking. These findings provide intervention insights to reduce the risk of adolescent NSSI.

Validation of a Korean Version of the Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale for Children.

Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct that plays an important role in various problem behaviors in children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to validate a Korean version of the short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale for Children. Participants were 330 children (166 female) from 2 elementary schools in Korea and 94 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children (23 female) from two major hospitals. The Korean short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale for Children (UPPS-P-C) (20 items), Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 6-18 (CBCL 6-18), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11) were administered. 107 children from the control group were retested 6 months later. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) conducted in the control group supported a 5-factor hierarchical model in which 1) positive and negative urgency factors are loaded on a higher-order factor of general urgency; 2) lack of perseveration and lack of premeditation factors are loaded on a higher-order factor of lack of conscientiousness; and 3) sensation seeking remained as a separate dimension. Reliability analysis demonstrated that the 5 factors of the Korean short UPPS-P-C had acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Lack of premeditation and lack of perseveration subscales showed significant correlations with measures of problem behaviors in CBCL and all the subscales were correlated with the BIS-11. The ADHD group showed significantly higher scores in lack of premeditation, lack of perseveration, positive urgency, and negative urgency subscales. This study indicates that the Korean version of short UPPS-P-C has adequate reliability and validity. It may be a valid tool to assess impulsivity of healthy children as well as ADHD.

Role of Worry in Addiction: Implication of Metacognitive Beliefs and Type 2 Worry.

According to the self-medication hypothesis, worriers use substances to cope with their symptoms; however, some published results have challenged this hypothesis. The aim of this study is to show if worry increases the risk of SUD when it is negatively appraised by negative metacognitive beliefs. We recruited three samples: 68 patients with a severe AUD, 27 patients dependent on eating and 42 control participants. We used the Yale Food Addiction Scale-2, the Metacognitions Questionnaire-65, the UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale and the Anxiety Thoughts Inventory. We confirmed a direct effect of worries and metaworry on alcohol (AUD) and eating addiction (EA), but our multivariate analyses revealed that metacognitive beliefs and metaworry are the most robust predictors of alcohol and eating addiction. We reported substance-related differences in the relationship between worry and addiction. AUD is related to the metacognitive activity set in motion by worries while EA is associated with a maladaptive form of worry (meta-worry) where worries are negatively interpreted.

Relationship of self-reported pica and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder symptomology with dimensions of impulsivity, perceived stress among Pakistani University students.

Pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder are two of the three new eating and feeding disorders introduced in the DSM-5, this inclusion has drawn attention to the immediate need for research into their prevalence, diagnostic assessment, underlying risk factors and optimal treatment. There are very few studies available that explored the predictors or causes of these eating disorders specifically in Pakistani context. The objectives of the current study include (a) to estimate the presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder symptomology among young adults in Pakistan, (b) to examine the relationship between dimensions of impulsivity, stress and presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, (c) to explore the mediation role of stress. The sample consisted of 660 young adults with age range 18-25years, recruited through convenient sampling. The respondents were provided with a questionnaire comprising of an informed consent, a demographic information sheet and self-report measures including PARDI-AR-Q to assess symptomology of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale to assess dimensions of impulsivity and Perceived Stress Scale to measure perceived stress. The findings show that 28 participants (4.2%) reported Pica symptomology, of which eleven participants indicated that they currently consume more than one non-food item. 19 respondents (2.8%) reported avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder symptomology. 13 respondents reported varying degrees of all three symptom clusters namely sensory based food avoidance, lack of interest in food, and fear of negative consequences of eating. Additionally, each of the dimensions of impulsivity was found to be positively correlated to the presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Perceived stress was identified as a mediating factor between each of the dimensions of impulsivity and presence of pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Although current study focused on a particular age range, it has drawn attention to the necessity of screening and investigating other strata of Pakistani population for pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. The clinical utility of the present research resided in the identification of factors associated with pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, an information which can be used to tailor psychological interventions, modify existing ones, and inform the future research on evidence-based treatment.

Work engagement, impulsivity and, self-efficacy among Polish workers. Moderating role of impulsivity.

The study proposes adding a new component to the Job Demands-Resources Theory, termed 'personal demands'. Impulsivity serves as an illustrative example of personal demands. A cross-sectional questionnaire was conducted and a total of 394 (Female = 59.6%) workers were surveyed. Standardized survey questionnaires were used in the study, i.e. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9), Life Roles Self-Efficacy Scale (LRSES) and UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale. The obtained results indicate that Work Engagement correlates negatively with Impulsivity scales (lack of premeditation (r = -.22; p < .001), lack of persistence (r = -.27; p < .001), positive urgency (r = -.12; p, < .01) and negative urgency (r = -.12; p < .01)). In addition, Positive Urgency, moderates the relation between Self-efficacy and Work Engagement, in line with the theory (B = .133; SE = .067; t = 1.98; p < .05; LLCI = .0007; ULCI = 0.2643). This confirmed the fact, that impulsivity should be included in the JDR theory as a 'personal demand'.

Impulsivity, depression, and suicide in female patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility

BackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of infertility associated with multiple medical and psychiatric complications. The study compared suicide, impulsivity, and depression in females with PCOS to females with other causes of infertility.MethodsSixty females with infertility were included in two groups. Group A included 30 females with PCOS and infertility, while group B included 30 females with infertility for other causes than PCOS. The assessment included infertility workup, medical history, hormonal profile, Beck depression inventory (BDI), Short Version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, and Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.ResultsGroup A had higher numbers of patients with depression (p-value = 0.04) and higher BDI (p-value = 0.001). Negative urgency, positive urgency, and sensation-seeking were higher in PCOS patients (p-value = 0.001, 0.03, 0.04). A significant positive correlation was found between sensation-seeking, BDI scores (p = 0.01), and LH level (p = 0.03).ConclusionsIt was concluded that patients with PCOS have more depression and impulsivity than patients with other causes of infertility. Suicide was not different in both groups.

In search of the relationship between predisposition to addictions and impulsivity in online players from the resentment perspective

Over the past few years, there has been a great development of audiovisual electronic media. It brings great opportunities in many scientific fields but is also subject to many judgments of criticism from opponents. Therefore, in view of the enormity of the changes and expansion of the culture, many circles wonder and analyze what changes occur among adults under the influence of these means and especially online games. The author, based on his own research, presents a new psychological approach between the predisposition to addictions and impulsivity in the light of ressentiment. Seventy-two people participated in the study, and the IVE Impulsivity Questionnaire, UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale and Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGD-20 Test) and Ressentiment Questionnaire were used. The results of the study showed that there is a link between impulsivity and addiction propensity, but it is determined by the degree of impulsivity in a person. On the other hand, ressentiment in the emotion regulatory system appeared as a negative feeling resulting from a sense of unfulfillment in an online game causing a mental state that extends over time and is underpinned by various types of emotionally tinged reactions. What can cause these feelings to turn into revenge without concrete actions-inducing hatred, but not leading to infliction of harm-and causing jealousy, which will not be confirmed by acts of jealousy. In light of this research, the negative emotion that is generated during online game interaction relates to personal experiences and can affect the emotional state and components of environmental attitudes.

Effect of online game policy on smartphone game play time, addiction, and emotion in rural adolescents of China

BackgroundSmartphone game addiction has emerged as a major public health problem in China and worldwide. In November 2019 and August 2021, the National Press and Publication Administration of China implemented two increasingly strict policies, as a means of preventing smartphone game addiction in adolescents aged 18 or below. This study aimed to analyze the effect of the policies on smartphone game play time, addiction, and emotion among rural adolescents in China.MethodsWe sent the questionnaire to rural adolescents through the online survey tool Questionnaire Star, a professional online survey evaluation platform. The questionnaire included demographic data, smartphone use survey, smartphone game addiction and emotion evaluation scales. The Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) measured adolescents’ smartphone game addiction. The Short Version of UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (SUPPS-P) and Social Anxiety Scale for Children (SASC) measured emotion. According to SAS-SV score, the enrolled rural adolescents were divided into addiction group and non-addiction group. The t-test, Chi-square test, and repeated measure ANOVA assessed the effect of the policies on adolescents’ smartphone game addiction and emotion.ResultsAmong enrolled 459 rural adolescents with a mean age of 14.36 ± 1.37years, 151 (32.90%) were in the addiction group and 308 (67.10%) were in the non-addiction group. Adolescents in the addiction group were older, more male, and higher grade. There were time and group effects between the two groups in playtime. After a year of policies implementation, the weekly game time dropped from 3.52 ± 1.89 h to 2.63 ± 1.93 h in the addiction group and from 2.71 ± 1.75 h to 2.36 ± 1.73 h in the non-addiction group. There were also time and group effects in SAS-SV and SASC scores, but not for SUPPS-P score. In the addiction group, the SAS-SV score dropped from 41.44 ± 7.45 to 29.58 ± 12.43, which was below the cut-off value for addiction, and the level of social anxiety was consistently higher than non-addiction group.ConclusionsThe playtime of rural adolescents spent on smartphone games has decreased significantly due to the restriction of the policies rather than the lack of addiction or social anxiety. The policies had practically significant effects in reducing smartphone game play time for rural adolescents in China.

Enhanced reactive inhibition in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury disorder.

To investigate whether the core of the pathophysiology underlying non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) relates to poor impulse control due to impaired motor inhibition (i.e. the ability to inhibit a preplanned motor response). We conducted a case-control study to compare the proficiency of two domains of motor inhibition, that is, reactive and proactive inhibition, by giving the reaching arm version of the stop-signal task and a go-only task to 28 drug-naive adolescents with NSSI disorder (NSSID) (mean age [SD] 15 years 8 months [1 year 4 months]; three males and 25 females) and 28 typically developing adolescents (mean age 15 years 8 months [1 year 5 months]; three males and 25 females). Reactive inhibition, as determined by the duration of the stop-signal reaction time, was enhanced in adolescents with NSSID compared to typically developing controls (194.2 [22.5 ms] vs 217.5 [17.3 ms], p < 0.001). By contrast, proactive inhibition was similar in both groups. Lastly, the level of impulsivity, assessed using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11, did not differ between typically developing adolescents and adolescents with NSSID. However, adolescents with NSSID were more impulsive than controls in a subscale of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale. NSSID is not driven by heightened motor impulsivity. Instead, adolescents with NSSID exhibited greater proficiency in reactive inhibition, a proxy for motor impulsivity. We suggest that the enhancement of reactive inhibition strengthens action control, allowing adolescents to suppress their self-protection instinct and perform NSSI behaviours.