The relationship between impulsivity, risk-taking propensity and nicotine dependence among older adolescent smokers

Abstract

Impulsivity and risk-taking propensity are neurobehavioral traits that reliably distinguish between smoking and non-smoking adults. However, how these traits relate to smoking quantity and nicotine dependence among older adolescent smokers is unclear. The current study examined impulsivity and risk-taking propensity in relation to smoking behavior and nicotine dependence among current older adolescent smokers (age 16–20 years; N = 107). Participants completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–11 (BIS-11), the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART), and self-report measures of smoking behavior and nicotine dependence. Results indicated a significant positive relationship between nicotine dependence and the Attention subscale (β =.20, t = 2.07, p <.05) and the Non-planning subscale (β =.19, t=1.92, p<.06) of the BIS-11. Contrary to expectation, the results also indicated a significant negative relationship between performance on the BART and nicotine dependence (β = −.19, t=−2.18, p <.05), such that greater risk-taking propensity was associated with less dependence. These data suggest that impulsivity and risk-taking propensity are related to older adolescent smoking but are separable traits with distinguishable associations to nicotine dependence among adolescents. These findings support the notion that impulsivity is related to heightened nicotine dependence, but suggest the relationship between risk-taking propensity and nicotine dependence is more ambiguous and warrants further investigation.

Modeling behavioral reactivity to losses and rewards on the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART): Moderation by alcohol problem severity.

“…In addition, among adult smokers, tobacco dependence was negatively correlated with risk-taking in the BART (Ryan, Mackillop, & Carpenter, 2013), replicating a negative relationship between dependence severity and risk-taking assessed in the BART. Effects are not uniform, however, because multiple studies comparing tobacco dependent versus nondependent or tobacco using versus nonusing control participants have failed to detect overall differences in risk-taking propensity in the BART (Acheson & de Wit, 2008;Galván et al, 2013).…”

“…As others have observed a negative relationship between risktaking in the BART and substance dependence in adult tobacco and alcohol users (Campbell et al, 2013;Ryan et al, 2013), future studies should examine trial-by-trial behavior to more fully evaluate behavior in the task. Decision-making under risk represents a complex cognitive process that is likely influenced by subtleties of task design.…”

“…The goal of these analyses was to identify behavioral mechanisms underlying the previously observed negative relationship between risk-taking in the BART and substance dependence (Ashenhurst et al, 2011;Dean et al, 2011;Ryan et al, 2013). This was accomplished by implementing a multilevel regression model to examine trial-by-trial behavior while taking into account behavioral reactivity to bursts (failures) and cash outs (rewards).…”

“…In addition, this represents the first attempt to test whether severity of alcohol problems is associated with behavioral reactivity to bursts and cash outs of differing reward/loss magnitudes in the BART as assessed in a large community sample of heavy drinkers expressing a range of alcohol use problems. These analyses advance the literature by examining behavioral mechanistic explanations for the negative relationship between substance use problems and risk-taking in the BART in adults (Ashenhurst et al, 2011;Campbell et al, 2013;Ryan et al, 2013). This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.…”

The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 Among a School Sample of Portuguese Male and Female Adolescents

“…For instance, strong relationships have been found between self-report measures of impulsivity, psychopathy, and narcissism in adults (Malesza and Ostaszewski 2016). In children and adolescents, impulsivity has been related to a wide array of externalizing and internalizing pathologies as well as to problematic behaviors, such as hyperactivity, aggression, learning problems, anxiety disorders, narcissism, depression, smoking behavior, and substance abuse (Cataldo et al 2005;Fink and McCown 1993;Jensen et al 2007;Ryan et al 2013;Summerfeldt et al 2004;Vazire and Funder 2006). Furthermore, longitudinal analyses have shown that highly impulsive children were more likely to have conduct problems and antisocial behavior later on (López-Romero et al 2015;Luengo et al 1994).…”