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Further exploration of the SUPPS-P impulsive behavior scale’s factor structure: Evidence from a large Hungarian sample

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Abstract

Impulsivity is a multidimensional construct playing a pervasive role in psychiatry and neuropsychology. Lynam et al. (2006) have developed the 59-item UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, which assesses five distinct impulsivity dimensions: positive urgency, negative urgency, lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation, and sensation seeking. The short, 20-item version of the UPPS-P (SUPPS-P; Billieux et al. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 53(5), 609–615, 2012) has been developed and adapted into several languages, including English, French, Italian, Spanish, and Arabic. The aim of the present study was to test four theoretical models of the SUPPS-P in a large sample of Hungarian adults. A total of 15,703 participants (64.76% male; Mage = 33.42 years, SD = 11.06) completed the SUPPS-P using an online questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analyses corroborated the first-order five-factor model of impulsivity and a hierarchical model representing three higher-order constructs (urgency, lack of conscientiousness, sensation seeking), whereas the one-factor and three-factor model were not supported. The factor structure of the SUPPS-P preserved the original, theory-driven structure of the UPPS-P model and this instrument demonstrated good internal consistency. Hypersexual behavior consequences were positively associated with most SUPPS-P components, thus criterion validity was also supported. The SUPPS-P had strong psychometric properties that reflected the theoretical structure of the original UPPS-P model, thus it constitutes a theoretically grounded and time saving multidimensional instrument for assessing impulsivity.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (Grant number: K111938). Ágnes Zsila was supported by the New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities.

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Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ágnes Zsila.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Appendices

Appendix 1

UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale

Below are a number of statements that describe ways in which people act and think. For each statement, please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the statement. If you Agree Strongly circle 1, if you Agree Somewhat circle 2, if you Disagree somewhat circle 3, and if you Disagree Strongly circle 4. Be sure to indicate your agreement or disagreement for every statement below.

1 – Agree strongly

2 – Agree some

3 – Disagree some

4 – Disagree Strongly

 

1

2

3

4

1. I usually think carefully before doing anything.

O

O

O

O

2. When I am really excited, I tend not to think on the consequences of my actions.

O

O

O

O

3. I sometimes like doing thingks that are a bit frightening.

O

O

O

O

4. When I am upset I often act without thinking.

O

O

O

O

5. I generally like to see things through the end.

O

O

O

O

6. My thinking is usually careful and purposeful.

O

O

O

O

7. In the hearth of an argument, I will often say things that I later regret.

O

O

O

O

8. I finish what I start.

O

O

O

O

9. I quite enjoy taking risks.

O

O

O

O

10. When overjoyed, I feel like I can’t stop myself from going overboard.

O

O

O

O

11. Once I start a project, I almost always finish it.

O

O

O

O

12. I often make matters worse because I act without thinking when I am upset.

O

O

O

O

13. I usually make up my mind through careful reasoning.

O

O

O

O

14. I generally seek new and exciting experiences and activities.

O

O

O

O

15. I tend to act without thinking when I am really excited.

O

O

O

O

16. I am a productive person who always gets the job done.

O

O

O

O

17 When I feel rejected, I will often say things that I later regret.

O

O

O

O

18. I welcome new and exciting experiences and sensations, even if they are a little frightening and unconventional.

O

O

O

O

19. Before making up my mind, I consider all the advantages and disadvantages.

O

O

O

O

20. When I am very happy, I feel like it is OK to give in to cravings or overindulge.

O

O

O

O

  1. Factors:
  2. Negative Urgency: 4*; 7*; 12*; 17*
  3. Positive Urgency: 2*; 10*; 15*; 20*
  4. Lack of Premeditation: 1; 6; 13; 19
  5. Lack of Perseverance: 5; 8; 11; 16
  6. Sensation Seeking: 3*; 9*; 14*; 18*
  7. (*reversed item)

Appendix 2

UPPS-P Impulzív Viselkedés Skála

Az alábbiakban olyan állításokat olvashat, amelyek az emberek viselkedését és gondolkodásmódját írják le. Kérjük, minden állításnál jelölje be, hogy mennyire ért egyet az adott állítással. Ha teljesen egyetért, karikázza be az 1-es számot, ha inkább egyetért, karikázza be a 2-es számot, ha inkább nem ért egyet, karikázza be a 3-as számot, míg ha egyáltalán nem ért egyet, a 4-es számot karikázza be. Győződjön meg arról, hogy minden állításnál jelezte-e egyetértését vagy egyet nem értését.

1 – teljesen egyetértek

2 – inkább egyetértek

3 – inkább nem értek egyet

4 – egyáltalán nem értek egyet

 

1

2

3

4

1. Mielőtt bármit is csinálnék, rendszerint körültekintően végiggondolom azt.

O

O

O

O

2. Amikor igazán izgatott vagyok, hajlamos vagyok nem gondolni a tetteim következményeire.

O

O

O

O

3. Néha szeretek olyan dolgokat csinálni, amik egy kissé ijesztőek.

O

O

O

O

4. Amikor feldúlt vagyok, gyakran gondolkodás nélkül cselekszem.

O

O

O

O

5. A dolgokat általában szeretem végigcsinálni.

O

O

O

O

6. A gondolkodásom általában körültekintő és céltudatos.

O

O

O

O

7. A vita hevében gyakran mondok olyat, amit később megbánok.

O

O

O

O

8. Befejezem, amit elkezdek.

O

O

O

O

9. Meglehetősen élvezem a kockázatvállalást.

O

O

O

O

10. Amikor boldog vagyok, úgy érzem, hogy nem tudok megálljt parancsolni magamnak.

O

O

O

O

11. Majdnem mindig befejezem azokat a feladatokat, amiket elkezdek.

O

O

O

O

12. Gyakran csak tovább rontom a dolgokat azzal, hogy gondolkodás nélkül cselekszem, amikor dühös vagyok.

O

O

O

O

13. Általában gondos mérlegelés után hozok döntést.

O

O

O

O

14. Általában keresem az új és izgalmas élményeket, tapasztalatokat.

O

O

O

O

15. Hajlamos vagyok arra, hogy gondolkodás nélkül cselekedjek olyankor, amikor igazán izgatott vagyok.

O

O

O

O

16. Olyan produktív ember vagyok, aki mindig elvégzi a munkát.

O

O

O

O

17 Amikor azt érzem, hogy visszautasítanak, gyakran mondok olyan dolgokat, amiket később megbánok.

O

O

O

O

18. Örömmel fogadom az új és izgalmas élményeket és érzéseket, még akkor is, ha azok egy kicsit rémisztőek, vagy szokatlanok.

O

O

O

O

19. Döntéshozatal előtt mindig mérlegelem az összes előnyt és hátrányt.

O

O

O

O

20. Amikor nagyon boldog vagyok, úgy érzem, hogy rendben van az, ha engedek a sóvárgásaimnak vagy halmozom az élvezeteket.

O

O

O

O

  1. Faktorok:
  2. Negatív sürgetettség: 4*; 7*; 12*; 17*
  3. Pozitív sürgetettség: 2*; 10*; 15*; 20*
  4. Megfontoltság hiánya: 1; 6; 13; 19
  5. Kitartás hiánya: 5; 8; 11; 16
  6. Szenzoros élménykeresés: 3*; 9*; 14*; 18*
  7. (*fordított tétel)

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Zsila, Á., Bőthe, B., Demetrovics, Z. et al. Further exploration of the SUPPS-P impulsive behavior scale’s factor structure: Evidence from a large Hungarian sample. Curr Psychol 39, 378–388 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9773-7

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