Negative urgency moderates reactivity to laboratory stress inductions

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychopathology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Impulsive personality traits are linked to psychopathology.
• Negative urgency (NUR) is a trait associated with substance and eating disorders.
• Limited laboratory research exists on the in vivo emotional and behavioral correlates of self-reported NUR.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate negative urgency (NUR) as a moderator of reactivity to laboratory-induced stress.
• To examine the relationship between NUR and in vivo emotional, physiological, and behavioral responses to stress.
• To validate the construct of NUR and its measurement via the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale.

Main Methods:

• Harmonized two archival datasets on alcohol and high-energy-dense (HED) food motivation.
• Assessed 148 adults for NUR, alcohol misuse/binge eating severity, negative affect, and psychophysiological arousal.
• Utilized the Trier Social Stress Test and stress imagery induction, followed by a behavioral choice procedure for alcohol/HED food reinforcement value.

Main Results:

• NUR positively moderated stress induction effects on self-reported negative affect and relative reinforcing value.
• Elevated NUR was associated with greater alcohol misuse severity.
• NUR did not moderate stress effects on psychophysiological arousal or binge eating severity.

Conclusions:

• Findings provide in vivo validation for the construct of negative urgency (NUR) and its measurement.
• Results enhance understanding of self-regulatory deficits characteristic of various psychopathological disorders.
• NUR's role in moderating stress reactivity has implications for understanding and treating substance use disorders.