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. 2023 Jul;26(4):e13370.
doi: 10.1111/desc.13370. Epub 2023 Feb 1.

Longitudinal associations between impulsivity and lie-telling in childhood and adolescence

Victoria W Dykstra  1 , Vanessa M Turchio  1 , Teena Willoughby  1 , Angela D Evans  1
Affiliations

Longitudinal associations between impulsivity and lie-telling in childhood and adolescence

Victoria W Dykstra et al. Dev Sci. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Lie-telling and impulsivity levels peak during late childhood to early adolescence and have been suggested to be related. Heightened impulsivity may lead adolescents to lie in favor of short-term benefits without consideration for the potential consequences of deception. The present study assessed longitudinal relations between self-reported impulsivity and lie-telling frequency. Participants from a large-scale longitudinal study (N = 1148; Mage = 11.55, SD = 1.69, 9-15 years at Time 1) reported on their impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale) and their frequency of lie-telling to parents, to teachers, to friends, and about cheating across two time points 1 year apart. Cross-lagged path analysis revealed greater impulsivity was associated with more frequent lie-telling to parents, friends, and teachers, and about cheating over time. Our findings demonstrate the role of impulsivity in the development of lie-telling behaviors. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Impulsivity predicts lying across time in multiple contexts (to parents, friends, teachers, and about cheating). Previous research has demonstrated the role of top-down influences on lie-telling, but the current study suggests that bottom-up processes are also influential.

Keywords: adolescence; childhood; deception; impulsivity; lie-telling; longitudinal.

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References

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