The Influence of Trait Compulsivity and Impulsivity on Addictive and Compulsive Behaviors During Covid-19

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15525449
AutoresLucy Albertella (0000-0001-5232-6414, Monash University, autor de correspondencia), Kristian Rotaru (0000-0003-2570-2044, Monash University), Erynn Christensen (0000-0001-7260-184X, Monash University), Amelia Lowe (Monash University), Mary‐Ellen Brierley (0000-0003-1732-2260, Monash University), Mary-Ellen Brierley, Karyn Richardson (Monash University), Samuel R Chamberlain (0000-0001-7014-8121, University of Southampton), Rico S C Lee (0000-0001-8436-0190, Monash University), Edouard Kayayan (Monash University), Jon E Grant (0000-0001-7784-7021, University of Chicago), Sam Schluter-Hughes (Monash University), Campbell Ince (0000-0002-2072-5741, Monash University), Leonardo F Fontenelle (0000-0001-9075-8226, Monash University), Rebecca Segrave (0000-0002-1839-0794, Monash University), Murat Yücel (0000-0002-4705-452X, Monash University)
Año2021
Volumen12
Páginas634583-634583
Fecha de publicación2021-02-23
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
EditorialFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2021.634583
PMID33708147
OpenAlexW3129782453
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas11
Referencias citadas85

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in high levels of psychological distress worldwide, with experts expressing concern that this could result in corresponding increases in addictive behaviors as individuals seek to cope with their distress. Further, some individuals may be at greater risk than others for developing problematic addictive behaviors during times of high stress, such as individuals with high trait impulsivity and compulsivity. Despite the potential of such knowledge to inform early detection of risk, no study to date has examined the influence of trait impulsivity and compulsivity on addictive behaviors during COVID-19. Toward this aim, the current study examined the association between impulsive and compulsive traits and problematic addictive and compulsive behaviors during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Australia. Methods: Eight hundred seventy-eight adults completed a cross-sectional online survey during the first lockdown, between late May to June 2020. Participants completed scales for addictive and compulsive behaviors for the period prior to and during lockdown for problematic eating, pornography, internet use, gambling, drinking, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Negative binomial regressions examined the associations between impulsivity, compulsivity, and their interaction with problematic behaviors during lockdown, controlling for age, gender, sample, psychological distress, exposure to COVID-related stressors, and pre-COVID problems. Results: Greater trait compulsivity was associated with more problematic obsessive-compulsive behaviors ( p p = 0.038) during lockdown. Further, trait compulsivity interacted with trait impulsivity in relation to problematic eating behaviors ( p = 0.014) such that greater trait compulsivity was associated with more problems among individuals with low impulsivity only ( p = 0.030). Finally, psychological distress and/or exposure to COVID-related stressors were associated with greater problems across all addictive and compulsive behaviors, as was severity of pre-COVID problems. Discussion: Trait compulsivity was associated with addictive and compulsive behaviors in different ways. Further, the finding that stress-related variables (psychological distress and COVID-related stressors) were associated with greater problems across all lockdown behaviors supports the idea that stress may facilitate, or otherwise be associated with, problematic behaviors. These findings highlight the need for interventions that enhance resilience to stress, which in turn may reduce risk for addictive and compulsive disorders

Addiction · Behavioral addiction · Comorbidity · Compulsive behavior · Distress · Impulsivity · Psychiatry · Trait · Clinical Psychology · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders · Psychology