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An experimental paradigm examining the influence of frustration on risk-taking behavior
Jennifer M Loya1, Katherine L McCauley2, Andrea Chronis-Tuscano3
1George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MSN 3F5, Fairfax, VA 22030, United States; Center for Addictions, Personality, and Emotion Research, 2103 Cole Student Activities Building, College Park, MD 20742, United States.
Abstract:
The present study examined the impact of frustration on risk-taking in college students with low and high ADHD symptomatology (L-ADHD and H-ADHD). Participants completed the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) following induced frustration from a mood manipulation task (experimental session) and following no mood manipulation (control session). A manipulation check revealed a significant three-way interaction where the H-ADHD group reported higher frustration levels compared to the L-ADHD group, particularly in response to the frustration induction in the experimental condition. Primary results revealed that the L-ADHD group exploded significantly fewer balloons in the experimental condition compared to the control condition; there was a nonsignificant difference of balloon explosions across conditions for the H-ADHD group. The study provides initial laboratory-based support for the impact of frustration on the risk behavior of those with low and high levels of ADHD, with potential implications for future studies and ultimately for intervention.
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