The Role of the Five Facets of Impulsivity in Externalizing Disorders: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The aim of the current meta-analysis was to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the link between the five UPPS-P facets of impulsivity (Urgency, Perseverance, Premeditation, and Sensation seeking – Positive urgency) with conduct disorder (CD) and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in adolescents and young adults. Search terms were entered into PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. A total of 13 samples were included, comprising of 6,104 participants. Findings confirmed that higher levels of impulsivity, as well as individual facets of impulsivity, are associated with both CD and ASPD. Premeditation showed a strong correlation (r = 0.50), and sensation seeking had a small correlation (r = 0.23) with CD. Higher levels of all facets were associated with the presence of ASPD, with positive urgency showing the strongest (r = 0.49), and perseverance the weakest (r = 0.29) correlation to ASPD. A moderator analysis of age and gender revealed that the link between impulsivity and CD/ASPD did not differ for men or women, and for older or younger participants. In conclusion, these findings raise questions regarding the conceptual accuracy of impulsivity as an umbrella concept since the results provide support for the differentiation of impulsivity-related constructs. This suggests that further investigation of the five facets, and the acknowledgement of impulsivity as a multidimensional construct is warranted to fully understand (externalizing) psychopathology.