The UPPS model of impulsivity in the abuse of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

The UPPS model of impulsivity has recently been proposed, has been widely applied to substance abuse and is one of those recommended in the context of Research Domain Criteria, RDoC. However, its application to the abuse of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has been very limited. In the present work, a sample of n = 748 (67% females) was recruited through the Internet, and the reduced version of the UPPS-P was administered, in addition to the MULTICAGE-TIC and the Prefrontal Symptoms Inventory (PSI-20). The psychometric properties of UPPS-P were satisfactory in terms of internal consistency (0.87 > ω > 0.75) and structural validity. Impulsivity measured by UPPS-P correlated with all MULTICAGE-TIC scales, although with a very small effect size, and with greater magnitude with prefrontal dysfunction symptoms. The impulsivity dimension most related to ICT abuse was Urgency (0.3 > r > 0.2). A structural analysis of all the variables was carried out, with impulsivity appearing as a product of the prefrontal malfunction that predicted, through Positive Urgency, the abuse of ICTs. Impulsivity does not seem to be the central nucleus of ICT abuse, but rather failures in the superior control of behavior, of which impulsivity would be a consequence, but not the most important. This makes it advisable to design cognitive rehabilitation interventions that improve the functioning of superior behavior control mechanisms in the prevention and treatment of ICT abuse.