The Development of Impulsivity and Sensation Seeking: Associations with Substance Use among At-Risk Adolescents

Alexander M. Wasserman, Charles W. Mathias, Nathalie Hill-Kapturczak, Tara E. Karns-Wright, Donald M. Dougherty

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

We investigated if the dual systems model could explain the increased rates of substance use among at-risk youth. This study sampled 365 adolescents, 289 of which had a family history of substance use disorder, assessed biannually between the ages 13–16 years old. Growth curve analyses revealed that higher levels of impulsivity were related to higher levels of sensation seeking and a slower rate of decline in impulsivity was related to a faster rate of increase in sensation seeking. Only family history status and sensation seeking were directly associated with substance use (marijuana, alcohol) at age 16, though family history status was also indirectly related to substance use through higher levels of impulsivity to higher levels of sensation seeking.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1051-1066
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Research on Adolescence
Volume30
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cultural Studies
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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