Impulsivity in teen years has been linked to various negative outcomes like antisocial personality disorder and alcoholism later in life.
However, a recent study based on data from multiple hundreds of young people over several years sheds light on the complex pathway connecting impulsivity, alcohol use, and antisocial behavior.
Let's find out more.
A targeted study
The research suggests that addressing high impulsivity levels in young adult years could potentially prevent the development of antisocial personality disorder and alcoholism a bit later in life.
The study underscores the importance of targeting impulsivity early, as it can influence behaviors leading to these disorders.
Conducted by a team of researchers, the study used data from the Philadelphia Trajectory Study, which tracked participants aged 10 to 21.
Changes in impulsivity during early to mid-adolescence predicted changes in antisocial behavior and alcohol use.
However, engaging in various antisocial behavior in young and mid-adult years was found to predict subsequent symptoms of both alcohol use and antisocial personality disorders.
It's actually important
The experiment emphasizes the need to identify and address impulsive tendencies early through interventions such as mindfulness training and family-based approaches.
Such proactive measures could potentially help mitigate the risk of these disorders and their associated challenges.
