(PS3-40) The Unique Contributions of Impulsivity Facets to Depression

Impulsivity is a broad risk factor for depression (Ogut et al., 2023) and specific facets of impulsivity vary in their prediction of symptoms. While lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation, sensation seeking, and negative and positive urgency exhibit positive relationships with depression, their independent contributions remain unclear (Berg et al., 2015). This study examines the effects of impulsivity facets on depression, with the expectation that they will each emerge as unique predictors.

A diverse sample of 379 participants (56.5% BIPOC; 18.2% Hispanic or Latino; 68.9% Women, 23.2% Men, 7.9% Non-binary or Other) completed the depression scale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales – 21 (DASS-21-D; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), and all five subscales of the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P; Cyders et al., 2007).

A multiple regression of DASS-21-D scores was conducted with all UPPS-P subscales entered as predictors. Combined, UPPS-P subscales explained 25% of the variance in depressive symptoms with only negative urgency (𝛃 = .43, p < .001) and lack of perseverance (𝛃 = .12, p < .05) as unique predictors. To examine the incremental contributions of both predictors, a hierarchical multiple regression was conducted with negative urgency entered in step one and lack of perseverance entered in step two. Negative urgency accounted for 23% of the variance in depressive symptoms (𝛃 = .46, p < .001) and an additional 2% was accounted for by lack of perseverance (𝛃 = .14, p < .01).

Only negative urgency and lack of perseverance uniquely predicted depressive symptoms. Consistent with previous research (Berg et al., 2015), negative urgency, or the tendency to act rashly when distressed, emerged as the strongest predictor. Negative urgency may contribute to depressed affect through the impulsive use of maladaptive regulation strategies, such as rumination. Lack of perseverance, or the tendency to give up on tasks when they become difficult, emerged as another, albeit weaker, predictor. With increasing depressive symptoms, people may struggle to persist in challenging tasks due to resulting negative affect and as a result, miss opportunities to experience positive affect.

While the racial, ethnic and gender diversity of participants in the present study are strengths, the results are limited by a non-clinical undergraduate sample. Future research would benefit from examining these relationships in community members with depression. If negative urgency and lack of perseverance contribute to depression, this may have implications for behavioral models and interventions that emphasize and target avoidant regulation of negative affect.