Composite impulsivity-related domains in college students

Sabin Khadka; Michael C Stevens; Farah Aslanzadeh; Balaji Narayanan; Keith A Hawkins; Carol S Austad; Sarah A Raskin; Howard Tennen; Rebecca M Wood; Carolyn Fallahi; Marc N Potenza; Godfrey D Pearlson

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.02.016

Composite impulsivity-related domains in college students

J Psychiatr Res. 2017 Jul:90:118-125. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.02.016. Epub 2017 Feb 21.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford HealthCare Corporation, Hartford, CT, USA. Electronic address: Sabin.Khadka@hhchealth.org.
² Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford HealthCare Corporation, Hartford, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
³ Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford HealthCare Corporation, Hartford, CT, USA.
⁴ Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, USA.
⁵ Trinity College, Hartford, CT, USA.
⁶ University of Connecticut, School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Child Study Ctr., Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; The National Center on Addictions and Substance Abuse, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
⁸ Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living, Hartford HealthCare Corporation, Hartford, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.

PMID: 28273441
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.02.016

Abstract

Impulsivity is a complex, multidimensional construct with prior theoretically and empirically derived characterizations of impulsivity-related behaviors varying considerably among studies. We assessed college students (N = 440) longitudinally with five impulsivity-related self-reported assessments and two computerized behavioral measures. Using a combination of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), we derived then validated several composite impulsivity-related domains (CIRDs). These factors replicated, in large part, findings from a previous study conducted by our group in an independent sample that used a similar analytical approach. The four CIRDs derived in current study are: 'Impulsive action', 'Approach/Appetite Motivation', 'Impulsivity/Compulsivity' and 'Experience and thrill seeking/Fearlessness'. Subsequent psychometric analyses found these CIRDs were relatively stable over the two-year period. Moreover, multiple regression analysis found that CIRD profiles associated with clinical and behavioral characteristics including anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and substance use symptomology. Overall, our data suggest that empirically-derived CIRDs have potential for organizing previous impulsivity-related constructs into a more naturalistic framework where distinct constructs are often expressed together in the same individuals. This framework might facilitate future research of neuropsychiatric disorder risk and etiology.

Keywords: Impulsivity; Impulsivity-related domains; Psychiatric disorders.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology*
Depression / psychology*
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Humans
Impulsive Behavior / physiology*
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Psychometrics
Regression Analysis
Reproducibility of Results
Self Report
Students / psychology*
Substance-Related Disorders / psychology*
Universities
Young Adult

Grants and funding

R01 MH081969/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States