UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale Research Articles

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.

Predictors of polysubstance use in patients with severe alcohol use disorder: the role of reward craving

BackgroundDifferent craving typologies (i.e., reward, relief, obsessive) have been identified in alcohol use disorder (AUD) but have been less investigated in specific populations like AUD patients with polysubstance use (PSU). The role of dysfunctional personality traits and reward pathways has been reported in both AUD and PSU. We hypothesized that patients with AUD-PSU might show a prevalent reward craving, alongside specific sociodemographic, clinical, and personality features, and aimed at investigating differences in 423 severe AUD outpatients with and without PSU. MethodsOne hundred fifteen patients (27.1% of the sample, 67% males, 42 ± 11.6 years old) displayed PSU. Sociodemographic, clinical features and psychopathological/personality dimensions were assessed through: Craving Typologies Questionnaire (CTQ); Obsessive–Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS); UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (S-UPPS-P); Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). A binomial logistic regression explored factors associated with PSU. ResultsWe found higher CTQ ‘reward’ scores (p < 0.001) in AUD-PSU patients, and a significant association between reward craving and PSU through logistic regression (OR:1.13; p = 0.005). Earlier AUD onset (p < 0.001), greater rates of binge drinking (p = 0.029), more legal problems (p = 0.015), but no significantly higher S-UPPS-S and DERS scores, were detected in AUD-PSU patients. ConclusionsReward craving was associated with increased risk for PSU in severe AUD patients. Given AUD-PSU participants greater severity and detrimental treatment responses imputed to PSU, identifying prevalent craving types among risk factors for PSU in AUD may help to implement therapeutic strategies. Addressing neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms through combined psychotherapies, pharmacological and neuromodulation treatments could support tailored interventions with better long-term outcome.

Test-retest reliability of the neuroanatomical correlates of impulsive personality traits in the adolescent brain cognitive development study.

While the neuroanatomical correlates of impulsivity in youths have been examined, there is little research on whether those correlates are consistent across childhood/adolescence. The current study uses data from the age 11/12 (N = 7,083) visit of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study to investigate the replicability of previous work (Owens et al., 2020) the neuroanatomical correlates of impulsive personality traits identified at age 9/10. Neuroanatomy was measured using structural and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, and impulsive personality was measured using the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale. Replicability was quantified using three Open Science Collaboration replication criteria, intraclass correlations, and elastic net regression modeling to make predictions across timepoints. Replicability was highly variable among traits: The neuroanatomical correlates of positive urgency showed substantial similarity between ages 9/10 and 11/12, negative urgency and sensation seeking showed moderate similarity across ages, and (lack of) premeditation and perseverance showed substantial dissimilarity across ages. In all cases, effect sizes between impulsive traits and brain variables were small. These findings suggest that, even for studies with large sample sizes and the same participant pool, the replicability of brain-behavior correlations across a 2-year period cannot be assumed. This may be due to developmental changes across the two timepoints or false-positive/false-negative results at one or both timepoints. These results also highlight an array of neuroanatomical structures that may be important to impulsive personality traits across development from childhood into adolescence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Negative Urgency Linked to Craving and Substance Use Among Adults on Buprenorphine or Methadone.

Despite the effectiveness of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), adults receiving MAT experience opioid cravings and engage in non-opioid illicit substance use that increases the risk of relapse and overdose. The current study examines whether negative urgency, defined as the tendency to act impulsively in response to intense negative emotion, is a risk factor for opioid cravings and non-opioid illicit substance use. Fifty-eight adults (predominately White cis-gender females) receiving MAT (with buprenorphine or methadone) were recruited from online substance use forums and asked to complete self-report questionnaires on negative urgency (UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale), past 3-month opioid cravings (ASSIST-Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test), and non-opioid illicit substance use (e.g., amphetamines, cocaine, benzodiazepines). Results revealed that negative urgency was associated with past 3-month opioid cravings, as well as past month illicit stimulant use (not benzodiazepine use). These results may indicate that individuals high in negative urgency would benefit from receiving extra intervention during MAT.

Family history of substance use disorder and parental impulsivity are differentially associated with neural responses during risky decision-making.

Risky decision-making is associated with the development of substance use behaviors during adolescence. Although prior work has investigated risky decision-making in adolescents at familial high risk for developing substance use disorders (SUDs), little research has controlled for the presence of co-morbid externalizing disorders (EDs). Additionally, few studies have investigated the role of parental impulsivity in offspring neurobiology associated with risky decision-making. One-hundred twenty-five children (28 healthy controls, 47 psychiatric controls with EDs without a familial history of SUD, and 50 high-risk children with co-morbid EDs with a familial history of SUD) participated in the Balloon Analog Risk Task while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. Impulsivity for parents and children was measured using the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale. We found that individuals in the psychiatric control group showed greater activation, as chances of balloon explosion increased, while making choices, relative to the healthy control and high-risk groups in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) and lateral orbitofrontal cortex (lOFC). We also found a positive association between greater activation and parental impulsivity in these regions. However, within rACC, this relationship was moderated by group, such that there was a positive relationship between activation and parental impulsivity in the HC group, but an inverse relationship in the HR group. These findings suggest that there are key differences in the neurobiology underlying risky decision-making in individuals with EDs with and without a familial history of SUD. The current findings build on existing models of neurobiological factors influencing addiction risk by integrating parental factors. This work paves the way for more precise risk models in which to test preventive interventions.

0214 Sleep Duration Moderates The Link Between Youth Impulsivity And Mature-Rated Media Usage One Year Later

Abstract Introduction Adolescents who evince higher levels of impulsive traits are more susceptible to early use of mature-rated gaming and watching R-rated movies. This is a major public health concern because exposure to mature-rated media in youth is associated with decreased empathy and aggressive behaviors later in life. However, not all youth with higher impulsive traits will be engaged in those risky media activities. Sleep is a critical bioregulatory behavior during adolescence, and shorter sleep duration is associated with decreased emotional regulation and attention span. Yet, few studies examined whether sleep duration moderates the association between impulsivity and risky media usage. Methods The current study examines the associations between sleep, impulsivity, and mature-rated video gaming and movie watching using longitudinal data of 2,757 early adolescents (49.3% female, Mage at 3-year follow-up=12.9 years, SD=0.65), collected through the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study® (2021, release 4.0). The participants’ weighted weekly sleep duration was measured via Fitbit watches for at least seven days at 2-year follow-up. Participants completed questionnaires about impulsivity via UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale at 2-year follow-up and R-rated movie watching and mature video gaming at 2- and 3-year follow-up. Structural equation modeling was conducted in Mplus 8.1 to test impulsivity and sleep duration’s direct and interaction effects on mature media use while controlling for bedtime screen use, parental monitoring, and demographic covariates. Results Higher impulsivity was predictive for more R-rated movie watching (β=0.09, p&amp;lt;.001) one year later. Shorter sleep duration was predictive for more mature video gaming (β=-0.05, p=.006) and R-rated movie watching (β=-0.07, p&amp;lt;.001) one year later. Sleep duration moderates the association between impulsivity and R-rated movie watching (β=-0.04, p=.03). Among youth with high impulsivity, shorter sleep duration was associated with an increased risk for R-rated movie watching. Conclusion Impulsivity is associated with R-rated movie watching, and short sleep duration (objectively measured with Fitbit) in early adolescence partially moderates the association between impulsivity and mature media usage. Sleep duration may be a modifiable factor for prevention and intervention efforts, especially in adolescents at higher risk for excessive mature-rated media usage. Support (if any) National Institutes of Health

Psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the UPPS-P impulsive behavior scale for children and adolescents

ObjectiveTo translate and validate the version for children and adolescents of the UPPS-P scale into Brazilian Portuguese. MethodAfter a five-step translation process, the final draft was submitted to a panel of 12 different specialties experts. Subsequently, the application of the scale was applied concomitantly with the “Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Scale - Version IV” (SNAP-IV) and the “Child and Adolescent Behavior Inventory” (CABI) scale to analyze the correlation between them. Content Validity Index (CVI) and reliability were estimated by calculating internal consistency and analyzing its test-retest stability. ResultsThe items whose CVI was lower than 80% underwent a detailed analysis to verify the reason for the bad evaluation. Five items (3, 7, 11, 22 and 35) scored below 80% and were reassessed. There was high internal consistency in all parameters: Lack of premeditation (McDonald's omega = 0.806; Cronbach's alpha = 0.801), Negative Urgency (McDonald's omega = 0.838; Cronbach's alpha = 0.836), Sensation seeking (McDonald's omega = 0.826; Cronbach's alpha = 0.810), Lack of Perseverance (McDonald's omega = 0.800; Cronbach's alpha = 0.799) and Positive Urgency (McDonald's omega = 0.936; Cronbach's alpha = 0.934). A strong correlation was observed between UPPS-P features and impulsivity in behavioral assessments. ConclusionsThe Brazilian Portuguese version of the UPPS-P scale is a good instrument to assess impulsivity in children and adolescents.

Persistence Is Multi-Trait: Persistence Scale Development and Persistence Perseveration and Perfectionism Questionnaire into Polish Translation.

The study was conducted on a non-clinical group of 306 subjects. The mean age was 27.6 and ranged from 18 to 58 years. The properties of both scales were analysed using the NEO-FFI personality inventory, PSS-10 Perceived stress level scale, The UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale, the SPSRQ Sensitivity to Punishment and Reward scale, Grit scale and NAS-50 Self-Control Scale. The psychometric features of the scales fulfil the requirements for psychometric tools. The factorial structure of both versions of the PS-20 scale proved to be unifactorial. Openness was the only variable to co-occur with the persistence scales of both the PS-20 and the PPPQ-10, and did not co-occur with scales intended to indicate psychopathology (Perseveration, Perfectionism). Negative correlations occurred with variables describing Persistence with levels of perceived stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Impulsivity measured by the SUPPS scale also showed negative correlations with the study variables. In the present work, we postulate that persistence is an umbrella construct that gathers and integrates many other traits to form a multi-trait persistence. Perseveration should be regarded as an undesirable trait characterising psychopathological behaviour. Desirable and indicative traits of an individual's good functioning are persistence and, to some extent, perfectionism. Individuals with low persistence and high perseveration may be characterised by a repertoire of psychopathological behaviours.

Impulsivity in amphetamine use disorder: Examination of sex differences.

This study aimed to test whether there are sex differences in the relationship between impulsivity and amphetamine use disorder (AMP). A naturalistic cross-sectional design was used. The Tulsa 1000 study was held in Tulsa, OK, USA. There were two groups in this study: AMP+ (29F, 20M) and AMP- (57F, 33M). This project focuses on data related to impulsivity: UPPS-P impulsive behavior scale and a stop signal task (SST) during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) recording. Group, sex and their interaction were compared for UPPS-P ratings and SST fMRI and behavioral responses. AMP+ reported higher UPPS-P positive and negative urgency scores (Ps< 0.001; r = 0.56 and 0.51) and displayed greater bilateral insula and amygdala responses across correct SST trials (Ps < 0.001, g range = 0.57-0.81) than AMP-. fMRI results indicated that AMP+ exhibited larger right anterior/middle insula, amygdala and nucleus accumbens signals during successful difficult stop trials than AMP- (Ps< 0.01; g = 0.63, 0.54 and 0.44, respectively). Crucially, two group × sex effects emerged: (a) within females, AMP+ reported larger UPPS-P lack of premeditation scores than AMP- (P < 0.001, r = 0.51), and (b) within males, AMP+ showed greater left middle insula signals than AMP- across correct SST trials (P = 0.01, g = 0.78). Both female and male amphetamine users appear to be characterized by rash action in the presence of positive and negative mood states as well as heightened recruitment of right hemisphere regions during behavioral inhibition. In contrast, planning ahead may be particularly difficult for female amphetamine users, whereas male amphetamine users may need to recruit additional left hemisphere resources during inhibitory processing.

Study on correlations of BDNF, PI3K, AKT and CREB levels with depressive emotion and impulsive behaviors in drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia

BackgroundThe pathogenesis of schizophrenia is still unknown. Nearly a half of schizophrenic patients have depressive symptoms and even some impulsive behaviors. The definite diagnosis of schizophrenia is an immense challenge. Molecular biology plays an essential role in the research on the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze the correlations of serum protein factor levels with depressive emotion and impulsive behaviors in drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia.MethodsSeventy drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia and sixty-nine healthy volunteers from the health check center in the same period participated in this study. In both the patient group and control group, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), phosphatidylin-ositol-3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) levels in the peripheral blood were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The depressive emotion and impulsive behaviors were evaluated with Chinese versions of the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) and Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (S-UPPS-P), respectively.ResultsThe serum levels of BDNF, PI3K, and CREB in the patient group were lower than those in the control group, while AKT level, total CDSS score and total S-UPPS-P score were all higher. In the patient group, total CDSS score, and total S-UPPS-P score were both correlated negatively with BDNF, PI3K, and CREB levels but positively with AKT level, and the lack-of-premeditation (PR) sub-scale score was not significantly correlated with BDNF, PI3K, AKT, and CREB levels.ConclusionOur study results showed that the peripheral blood levels of BDNF, PI3K, AKT, and CREB in drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia were significantly different from those in the control group. The levels of these serum protein factors are promising biomarkers to predict schizophrenic depression and impulsive behaviors.

Facets of impulsivity and reward in relation to binge-eating disorder course of illness among children: findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study.

The present study examined facets of impulsivity and reward sensitivity [as measured by the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale and Behavioral Activation and Behavioral Inhibition Scales (BIS/BAS)] as multivariable predictors of subsequent binge-eating disorder (BED) course of illness in middle childhood. The current sample included children aged 9-10 years (N=9,438) who took part in the baseline and 1-year follow-up assessments of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. BED course was operationalized as those who never developed BED or subthreshold BED (SBED) ('control'), were diagnosed with BED/SBED at year 1 but not baseline ('developers'), were diagnosed with BED/SBED at baseline but not year 1 ('remitters'), or were diagnosed with BED/SBED at both times ('maintainers'). Higher baseline BIS/BAS reward responsivity scores were related to the greater likelihood of belonging to the maintainer group relative to the control and remitter groups (ORs1.12-1.19). Regarding covariates, higher baseline body mass index percentile and internalizing symptoms were related to the greater likelihood of BED development, remittance, and maintenance compared to the control group (ORs=1.04-1.14); no variables were uniquely related to BED development. Exploratory analyses showed that the likelihood of belonging to the maintainer group compared to the control group was greatest at higher levels of negative urgency in combination with high reward responsivity. Heightened reward responsivity may convey risk for poorer BED course in children, while emotional disorder symptomatology may act as a more general risk and maintenance factor for BED.

Breastfeeding duration is associated with larger cortical gray matter volumes in children from the ABCD study.

Despite the numerous studies in favor of breastfeeding for its benefits in cognition and mental health, the long-term effects of breastfeeding on brain structure are still largely unknown. Our main objective was to study the relationship between breastfeeding duration and cerebral gray matter volumes. We also explored the potential mediatory role of brain volumes on behavior. We analyzed 7,860 magnetic resonance images of children 9-11 years of age from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) dataset in order to study the relationship between breastfeeding duration and cerebral gray matter volumes. We also obtained several behavioral data (cognition, behavioral problems, prodromal psychotic experiences, prosociality, impulsivity) to explore the potential mediatory role of brain volumes on behavior. In the 7,860 children analyzed (median age=9 years and 11 months; 49.9% female), whole-brain voxel-based morphometry analyses revealed an association mainly between breastfeeding duration and larger bilateral volumes of the pars orbitalis and the lateral orbitofrontal cortex. In particular, the association with the left pars orbitalis and the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex proved to be very robust to the addition of potentially confounding covariates, random selection of siblings, and splitting the sample in two. The volume of the left pars orbitalis and the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex appeared to mediate the relationship between breastfeeding duration and the negative urgency dimension of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale. Global gray matter volumes were also significant mediators for behavioral problems as measured with the Child Behavior Checklist. Our findings suggest that breastfeeding is a relevant factor in the proper development of the brain, particularly for the pars orbitalis and lateral orbitofrontal cortex regions. This, in turn, may impact impulsive personality and mental health in early puberty.

Validation of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale and Clinical Correlates of its Scores in French-Speaking Patients Starting a Residential Detoxification Program.

Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct that plays a prominent role in substance use disorder (SUD). The UPPS-P model distinguishes five impulsivity components (positive urgency, negative urgency, lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation, and sensation seeking). This study aimed to explore the structure of the UPPS-P in patients hospitalized for SUDs and to investigate the relationship between the dimensions of impulsivity and clinical variables. Inpatients of a residential detoxification service (n = 125) were recruited. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed, and associations were assessed between the components of impulsivity and clinical indexes. The factor analysis supported a model of impulsivity with five interrelated latent variables. Good internal consistency was found. External validity was supported by relationships with psychological difficulties. Multiple correlations (Kendall) suggested that, except for its sensation-seeking component, impulsivity is a significant risk factor for both the severity of addictive problems and their comorbidities. This study provides further evidence in favor of the 5-dimensional model of impulsivity. It highlights impulsivity as a transdiagnostic risk factor that should be considered in the management of SUD.

Modeling urgency in the lab: Exploring the associations between self-reported urgency and behavioral responses to negative outcomes in laboratory gambling

Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct that relates to different behaviors in everyday life and has been associated with many psychopathological disorders and behavioral problems, such as problematic gambling behavior. One questionnaire to measure these several facets on a trait level is the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale. Specifically, the UPPS-P investigates five distinct facets: (a) negative urgency, (b) lack of premeditation, (c) lack of perseverance, (d) sensation seeking, and (e) positive urgency. Negative urgency at a trait level in particular seems to be associated with the development of psychopathological disorders. To date, there are no established state measures of negative urgency. However, it was recently proposed that speeding after losses might be a suitable measure. Thus, in this study, we explored the possible relationship between a state measure of negative urgency modeled through a behavioral gambling task and a trait measure of negative urgency through the UPPS-P questionnaire. We used correlational and network analyses in an aggregated database of eight samples (total N = 1216) to explore the potential relationships between post-loss speeding on the behavioral gambling task and UPPS-P scores (by combining trait vs. item-based analyses). We found that the degree of speeding after losses (post-loss speeding) did not correlate with the trait measure of impulsivity in general and negative urgency specifically, either at the latent trait level or on an item-based level. This null finding indicates that our state measure of post-loss speeding and negative urgency on a trait level does not seem to capture the same underlying constructs. Implications for personality research are discussed.

Health-Related Cognitions and Metacognitions Indirectly Contribute to the Relationships Between Impulsivity, Fear of COVID-19, and Cyberchondria.

The aim of the study was to converge a structural equation model to unfold the compositive relationships between trait impulsivity, health cognitions, metacognitions about health, fear of COVID-19 and cyberchondria, after controlling for gender, age, marital status, having a chronic illness and chronic illness among first-degree relatives. Six hundred fifty-one participants (423 females, 65%; 228 males, 35%) participated in the study. The Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (S-UPPS-P), Health Cognitions Questionnaire (HCQ), The Meta-Cognitions about Health Questionnaire (MCQ-HA), Cyberchondria Severity Scale -Short Form (CSS-12), and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) were completed by volunteered participants. The structural model showed that the S-UPPS-P directly and indirectly contributed to the HCQ, MCQ-HA, CSS-12, and FCV-19S. The multi-group structural analysis by gender showed that the structural model had a partial measurement and factorial invariance. We concluded that the significant associations between impulsivity, fear of COVID-19 and cyberchondria were indirectly contributed by health-related cognitions and metacognitions.

Measurement Invariance and Differential Relationship to Substance Use of the Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale Across Racial Groups.

The Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior (SUPPS-P) scale assesses impulsive traits; however, its use among racial/ethnic minorities needs further testing. The aims of this study are to (a) test the measurement invariance of the SUPPS-P scale between White and racial/ethnic minority groups and (b) determine whether impulsive personality traits differentially relate to substance use outcomes across these groups. Participants were 1,301 young adults and recruited through a large public university or Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis concluded strong measurement invariance for Black, Asian American, and Hispanic/Latino groups, each compared with a White group. Most relationships between SUPPS-P traits and substance use did not differ across the groups compared, although two differences emerged with alcohol use. The SUPPS-P can validly and reliably measure impulsive traits in Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian American young to middle adults. Previous findings on risk patterns with the SUPPS-P likely generalize to these groups.

대학생의 스트레스와 음주문제의 관계에서 충동성과 사회적 지지의 조절된 매개효과

The Purpose of this study was to examine the moderated mediaton effect of social support through impulsivity on the relationship between college students’ stress and drinking problems. A survey was conducted using the Life Stress Scale for College Students, the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), the Korean UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, and the Social Support Scale. Data were analyzed from a total of 217 college students. The results of the study were as follows: First, all variables in this study showed statistically significant correlations. Second, a mediation effect of impulsivity on the relationship between college students’ stress and drinking problems was found. Third, a moderation effect of social support on the relationship between college students’ stress and impulsivity was found. Also, a moderation effect of social support on the relationship between impulsivity and drinking problems was found. Finally, an analysis of Hayes’s (2013) process macro model 58. social support also moderated a mediation effect of students’ stress on their drinking problems through impulsivity. Based on these results, the implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Role of Impulsivity and Emotion Dysregulation Dimensions on Core Characteristics of Binge Drinking among University Students.

Binge drinking refers to a pattern of alcohol consumption that leads to rapid intoxication followed by withdrawal and abstinence periods. This study aimed to investigate the potential differential contributions of impulsivity and emotion regulation difficulties to core characteristics of binge drinking (consumption speed, frequency of binge drinking episodes, and the ratio of binge drinking episodes) among a sample of non-abstainers college students. One thousand and five hundred fifty-five participants (17-25 years old) completed the UPPS-P Impulsive behavior scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and measures related to alcohol consumption patterns and affects by means of an online survey. Multiple regression analyses showed that UPPS-P sensation seeking, lack of premeditation, positive, and negative urgency dimensions were significantly associated with binge drinking core characteristics. More specifically, lack of premeditation, and sensation seeking dimensions were associated with speed of drinking, frequency of binge drinking epiosodes, and the ratio of binge drinking episodes. Positive urgency was associated with speed of drinking, and the ratio of binge drinking episodes while negative urgency was negatively associated with speed of drinking. DERS impulse dimension was associated with speed of drinking, DERS awareness dimension was negatively associated with the frequency of binge drinking episodes, and DERS goals dimension was significantly associated with the ratio of binge drinking episodes. Furthermore, patterns of drinking were independently associated with sex, depression and anxiety scores. These findings may help to plan and develop interventions aimed at addressing binge drinking in young adults by targeting impulsivity and emotion dysregulation.

Subjective and Behavioral Impulsivity Differentially Moderate Within- and Between-Person Associations Between Physical Activity and Alcohol Consumption.

Evidence indicates a counterintuitive positive relationship between physical activity and alcohol consumption, suggesting that people who engage in more physical activity consume more alcohol. Impulsivity, which has a well-documented role in alcohol use disorders, has been shown to moderate the between-person physical activity-drinking association among emerging adults. However, only a handful of studies have explored within-person associations of physical activity and drinking and potential moderators of this relationship. The current study evaluated the effects of both subjective and behavioral impulsivity on the within- and between-person association between physical activity and alcohol consumption among college students. Undergraduate students (N = 250) between ages 18 and 25 years were asked to report their daily physical activity and drinking over 21 days. Physical activity was also recorded objectively through Pacer, a smartphone app. Subjective impulsivity was assessed using the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, and behavioral impulsivity was evaluated using the Balloon Analogue Risk Task. Within- and between-subject physical activity-drinking associations were differentially moderated by behavioral impulsivity and self-reported impulsivity. For instance, behavioral impulsivity moderated the within-person association between drinking and self-reported vigorous physical activity, whereas negative urgency moderated the between-person association between drinking and objective physical activity. Impulsivity, whether measured subjectively or behaviorally, significantly moderates the physical activity-alcohol consumption association. Importantly, this effect operates differently when predicting variation in behavior within individuals as compared with predicting differences in behavior between individuals.

The Complexity of Impulsivity Dimensions among Abstinent Individuals with Substance Use Disorders

ABSTRACT Impulsivity is a complex construct that has been operationalized considering personality dimensions (e.g., negative urgency [NU], lack of perseverance [LPe], lack of premeditation [LPr], positive urgency [PU]), and neuropsychological processes (i.e., cognitive disinhibition, motor disinhibition, impulsive decision-making). Empirical research suggested that they could represent core features of substance use disorders (SUDs). However, there are no studies that have comprehensively assessed them among patients with SUDs. Furthermore, the quality of relationships among such domains remains unclear. The current case–control study included 59 abstinent patients with SUDs and 56 healthy controls (HCs). There were two independent assessment phases: i) the administration of UPPS-P impulsive behavior scale; ii) a computerized neuropsychological battery (i.e., Attentional Network Test, Go/No-Go task, Iowa Gambling task). Patients with SUDs reported higher levels of NU and PU than HCs. NU, LPe, and LPr were associated to the co-occurrence of multiple SUDs. Motor disinhibition was the core dimension of SUDs. Cognitive disinhibition and Impulsive decision-making were also associated to SUDs. Self-report and neuropsychological dimensions of impulsivity were not correlated within the clinical group. HCs showed significant associations among these domains of impulsivity. Impulsivity should be viewed as a complex system of personality traits and neuropsychological processes among individuals with SUDs.