Changes in negative urgency, positive urgency, and sensation seeking across adolescence

Abstract

The development and potential co-development of traits related to impulsivity and sensation seeking across adolescence has garnered substantial attention within the extant literature. Some prior research suggests that facets show distinct patterns of change across adolescence and that intraindividual changes in these traits may be unrelated. However, the extant literature is somewhat hampered by measurement issues and inconsistent findings. Using an accelerated longitudinal design in a sample of adolescents (n = 1018; ages 11–16), changes in negative urgency, positive urgency, and sensation seeking were examined. The three facets showed similar trajectories across time (i.e., increasing during early adolescence before leveling off). Across all facets, there was strong evidence of correlated change, suggesting these traits are, developmentally, strongly related phenomena.

Childhood Drinking and Depressive Symptom Level Predict Harmful Personality Change

“…The findings of this study are consistent with the possibility that there is adolescent personality change other than the change described by models of normal development (Littlefield, Stevens, Ellingson, King, & Jackson, 2015). Middle school urgency levels can be predicted in advance by the behavior of elementary school children; this prediction is beyond that provided by prior urgency levels.…”

“…We found no evidence that drinking or depressive symptoms predicted change in sensation seeking, lack of planning, or lack of perseverance, all of which are impulsivity-related traits that do not reflect affect-driven impulsive action. Interestingly, when modeling normative personality change in adolescents, change in urgency and sensation seeking are highly correlated (Littlefield et al, 2015). The current findings suggest that disruptions in that normative developmental process, as reflected by very early engagement in drinking or very early experience of depressive symptoms, may specifically influence the trait of urgency.…”

Age and impulsive behavior in drug addiction: A review of past research and future directions

“…Adolescence is strongly associated with a heightened instability in these traits, potentially influenced by neurodevelopmental changes in this developmental stage (Crone & Dahl, 2012; Ernst & Fudge, 2009; Steinberg, 2008; Steinberg et al, 2008). Sensation seeking increases in early adolescence, with a peak in middle adolescence, and decreases closer to young adulthood (Littlefield et al, 2016; Romer & Hennessy, 2007; Steinberg et al, 2008); however, some studies have found an increase in sensation seeking moving toward young adulthood (Collado et al, 2014; Harden & Tucker-Drob, 2011; Pedersen et al, 2012). Negative urgency and positive urgency increase during early adolescence (i.e., 11–13 years) and decline across later adolescence (Littlefield et al, 2016).…”

“…Sensation seeking increases in early adolescence, with a peak in middle adolescence, and decreases closer to young adulthood (Littlefield et al, 2016; Romer & Hennessy, 2007; Steinberg et al, 2008); however, some studies have found an increase in sensation seeking moving toward young adulthood (Collado et al, 2014; Harden & Tucker-Drob, 2011; Pedersen et al, 2012). Negative urgency and positive urgency increase during early adolescence (i.e., 11–13 years) and decline across later adolescence (Littlefield et al, 2016). Lack of premeditation and perseverance show a linear decline from the age of 10 (Steinberg et al, 2008).…”

“…Personality traits become more “adaptive” in upholding societal demands associated with adulthood (Caspi et al, 2005). Specifically, shifts to greater agreeableness, lower neuroticism, lower impulsive behavior and higher self-control is seen with the transition to adulthood (Caspi et al, 2005; Littlefield et al, 2009). This shift converges with developmental changes in problematic drug use, where an abrupt decline in prevalence of drug use is observed in the third decade of life, referred as “maturing out” (Bachman et al, 2002; Fillmore et al, 1988; Littlefield et al, 2009; Littlefield & Sher, 2016; Winick, 1962).…”