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. 2013 Feb;25(1):223-39.
doi: 10.1017/S0954579412000284. Epub 2012 Jul 24.

Differential changes in impulsivity and sensation seeking and the escalation of substance use from adolescence to early adulthood

Patrick D Quinn  1 , K Paige Harden
Affiliations

Differential changes in impulsivity and sensation seeking and the escalation of substance use from adolescence to early adulthood

Patrick D Quinn et al. Dev Psychopathol. 2013 Feb.

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that impulsivity and sensation seeking are not stable risk factors for substance use among adolescents and early adults but rather that they undergo significant developmental maturation and change. Further, developmental trends of both personality facets may vary across individuals. In the current investigation, we used longitudinal data from ages 15 to 26 on 5,632 individuals drawn from the offspring generation of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to examine whether interindividual differences in intraindividual change in impulsivity and sensation seeking predicted the escalation of alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use in adolescence and early adulthood. Latent growth curve models revealed significant individual differences in rates of change in both personality and substance use. Age-related changes in personality were positively associated with individual differences in substance-use change. Individuals who declined more slowly in impulsivity increased in alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette more rapidly, whereas individuals who declined more slowly in sensation seeking increased more rapidly in alcohol use only. Although risk for substance use across the population may peak during adolescence and early adulthood, this risk may be highest among those who decline more gradually in impulsivity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean levels of sensation-seeking and impulsivity, ages 15-16 to 25-26 years. Sum scores were transformed to standard deviation units based on sample statistics at ages 15-16.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Observed versus predicted age-trends in frequency of alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use. Predicted = implied by univariate latent growth curve models. Observed = calculated from observed data. For alcohol use, 2 = 1-2 days per year, and 5 = 1-2 days per month. For cigarette and marijuana use, 0 = Never, 1 = less than once per week, and 2 = 1-2 days per week.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Estimated substance use trajectories of 500 randomly selected young adults across ages 15-26.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Example multivariate latent growth curve models of impulsivity, sensation seeking, and substance use across ages 15-26. Panel A displays the model including freely estimated covariances among intercepts and changes. Panel B displays the model in which change factors are regressed onto intercept factors. Bolded paths represent correlated changes. Demographic covariates are not shown.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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