Associations Among Functional and Dysfunctional Impulsivity: Direct and Indirect Effects on Sensation Seeking in Youth (19-25 Years Old)

Abstract

It is important to study the relationships between sensation seeking, functional and dysfunctional impulsivity to clarify the appropriateness and effectiveness of ways for seeking optimal stimulation. The aim of this study was to investigate if dysfunctional impulsivity had stronger direct and indirect effects on sensation seeking in youth with functional impulsivity as a mediator. Sensation seeking, functional and dysfunctional types of impulsivity were studied among 764 students from 19 to 25 years old by means of Radoslavova and Velichkov’s (2005) questionnaire. The results indicated that sensation seeking, functional and dysfunctional impulsivity correlated significantly and positively. Dysfunctional impulsivity was directly related to sensation seeking, as well as indirectly related to sensation seeking mediated by functional impulsivity. The findings also revealed that functional impulsivity was directly related to sensation seeking, as well as indirectly related to sensation seeking mediated by dysfunctional impulsivity. Dysfunctional impulsivity had larger direct effects on sensation seeking than functional impulsivity. Dysfunctional impulsivity also had larger effects as a mediator on sensation seeking than the effects of functional impulsivity as a mediator on sensation seeking. These findings suggest some deficiencies in the speed and accuracy of processing information, and the effectiveness of made decisions and implemented actions in search of optimal stimulation among youth.

Smartphone Abuse Amongst Adolescents: The Role of Impulsivity and Sensation Seeking

“…Disinhibition and thrill and adventure seeking seem to be the variables which are most associated with risk behaviors ( Lac and Donaldson, 2021 ; Siraj et al, 2021 ). Thus, both factors seemingly relate to impulsive behavior in adolescence as well ( Stoyanova and Ivantchev, 2021 ). In fact, sensation seeking is featured by behaviors that involve a risk or bring new thrills ( Zuckerman, 2007 ), so it is logical that these variables are related to smartphone addiction, since this device provides quick access to apps and social media that provide new stimuli on a continuous basis.…”

“…As a result, adolescents with boredom susceptibility, with disinhibited behavior and prone to thrill and adventure seeking that are also dysfunctionally impulsive may show an aggravated abuse of smartphones through a negative reinforcement process to soothe a dysphoric mood. Previous studies had already shown that abusive behaviors could be related to sensation seeking (boredom susceptibility, disinhibition and thrill and adventure seeking) ( Leung, 2008 ; Lac and Donaldson, 2021 ; Siraj et al, 2021 ), but also that sensation seeking was related to dysfunctional impulsivity ( Stoyanova and Ivantchev, 2021 ). Therefore, it is possible that dysfunctional impulsivity acts by increasing abusive behavior with smartphones as a consequence of the increased susceptibility of adolescents to sensation seeking.…”

“…For example, it has been related to smoking ( Latorre-Román et al, 2014 ), an excessive consumption of alcohol and other substances ( Zuckerman and Aluja, 2014 ; Merchán et al, 2020 ) and smartphone addiction ( Leung, 2008 ). Especially linked to risk-taking are the disinhibition and the thrill and adventure seeking subscales of the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking questionnaire ( Lac and Donaldson, 2021 ; Siraj et al, 2021 ), both related to impulsive behavior as well ( Stoyanova and Ivantchev, 2021 ).…”

“…In fact, many researchers show that sensation seeking, functional and dysfunctional impulsivity had a significant and positive correlation ( Magid et al, 2007 ). Moreover, dysfunctional impulsivity seems to be the one which shows a more direct impact on sensation seeking ( Stoyanova and Ivantchev, 2021 ), which may turn the variable into a mediator between impulsivity and excessive behaviors.…”

Construction of Meta-Thinking Educational Program Based on Mental-Brain Simulation (MTMBS) and Evaluating its Effectiveness on Executive Functions, Emotion Regulation, and Impulsivity in Children With ADHD: A Resting-State Functional MRI Study

“…Based on the neuropsychological approach, cognitive functions including inhibitory control processes (the ability to inhibit cognitive or motor responses) and decision-making are related to impulsivity (Rochat et al, 2017). Although impulsivity is not necessarily dysfunctional in nonclinical populations, in individuals suffering from mental disorders, impulsivity personality traits predict poor treatment outcomes (Bartholdy et al, 2016; Hershberger et al, 2017; Mallorquí-Bagué et al, 2018; Stoyanova et al, 2021; Testa et al, 2022; Wu et al, 2013). It should be noted that behavioral impulsivity is different from cognitive and emotional impulsivity.…”