A path model of different forms of impulsivity with externalizing and internalizing psychopathology: Towards greater specificity

Abstract

Objectives A growing empirical literature indicates that emotion-related impulsivity (compared to impulsivity that is unrelated to emotion) is particularly relevant for understanding a broad range of psychopathologies. Recent work, however, has differentiated two forms of emotion-related impulsivity: A factor termed Pervasive Influence of Feelings captures tendencies for emotions (mostly negative emotions) to quickly shape thoughts. A factor termed Feelings Trigger Action captures tendencies for positive and negative emotions to quickly and reflexively shape behavior and speech. The current study used path modeling to consider links from emotion-related and non-emotion-related impulsivity to a broad range of psychopathologies. Design and Methods Undergraduates completed self-report measures of impulsivity, depression, anxiety, aggression, and substance use symptoms. Results A path model (N = 261) indicated specificity of these forms of impulsivity. Pervasive Influence of Feelings was related to anxiety and depression, whereas Feelings Trigger Action and non-emotion-related impulsivity were related to aggression and substance use. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that emotion-relevant impulsivity could be a potentially important treatment target for a set of psychopathologies.

Toward a Functional View of the p Factor in Psychopathology

“…Specifically, a tendency toward impulsive speech and action in response to emotions has been differentiated from a tendency toward cognitive impulsiveness in response to (mostly negative) emotions—for example, rumination after a negative event, or reflexively generalizing from a negative event to the broader sense of self-worth (Carver et al, 2011). Reports of cognitive impulsiveness in reaction to emotion relate more strongly to internalizing syndromes than do other aspects of impulsiveness; reports of behavioral impulsiveness in reaction to emotion relate more strongly to externalizing disorders than do other aspects of impulsiveness (Johnson, Carver, & Joormann, 2013; Johnson, Tharp, Peckham, Carver, & Haase, in press). …”

Types of Emotion Regulation and Their Associations with Gambling: A Cross-Sectional Study with Disordered and Non-problem Ecuadorian Gamblers

“…Negative urgency has been reported to be one of the strongest indices of pathological status and complications among gamblers (Billieux et al, 2012). Converging studies have explored the neurobiological roots of negative urgency in basic emotion regulation processes (Chester et al, 2016;Ruiz de Lara, Navas, Soriano-Mas, Sescousse & Perales, 2018), and have shown that negative urgency plays a major role in an array of externalizing psychopathologies, including other addictions (Johnson, Carver, & Joorman, 2013;Johnson, Tharp, Peckham, Carver, & Haase, 2017).…”

The clinical assessment of impulsivity

“…[8] Thus, impulsivity is associated with a myriad of negative consequences most notably aggression, antisocial behavior, poor treatment compliance, self-harm, and suicide. [9][10][11] Thus as a clinical construct impulsivity is highly predictive of a poor prognosis thus further emphasizing its clinical relevance.…”

“…Recent research has demonstrated a relationship between emotion-focused impulsivity that triggers action and externalizing problems such as aggression and substance use. [11] In regards to internalizing problems, another emotion-focused facet of impulsivity has been found individual's view of the world and their automatic thoughts. [11] Impulsivity is also known to be highly related to self-harm and suicide; a recent meta-analysis demonstrated general support for this ideology demonstrating a relationship between self-injurious behavior, thoughts about self-harm and impulsivity.…”

“…[11] In regards to internalizing problems, another emotion-focused facet of impulsivity has been found individual's view of the world and their automatic thoughts. [11] Impulsivity is also known to be highly related to self-harm and suicide; a recent meta-analysis demonstrated general support for this ideology demonstrating a relationship between self-injurious behavior, thoughts about self-harm and impulsivity. [12] Further results also indicated a relationship between behavioral impulsivity and suicide attempts.…”