The role of the two-factor model of impulsivity and Conscientiousness in risk-udtaking and harm reduction behaviours among regular ecstasy users

摘要

Previous research has shown the personality factors of impulsivity andudconscientiousness are linked to engagement in health related risk-taking behavioursudin the general population. Study 1 aimed to investigate how useful the personalityudtraits of rash-spontaneous impulsivity (as conceptualised by Dawe and Loxton’sud(2004) two factor model of impulsivity) and conscientiousness were inuddifferentiating between regular (at least monthly) ecstasy users (REU) who engagedudin additional risk-taking behaviours (e.g., sexual risk-taking, drug driving) versusudREU who did not, as well as their ability to predict REU’s engagement in additionaludrisk-taking behaviours. Rash-spontaneous impulsivity scores were significantlyudhigher in REU deemed at risk for the categories of sexual, alcohol driving and bingeudrisk. Interestingly, rash-spontaneous impulsivity scores were significantly lower inudREU who engaged in injecting risk-taking behaviours than REU who did not. In audpredictive fashion, rash-spontaneous impulsivity successfully predicted REU whouddrove under the influence of alcohol, cannabis and party drugs. There were nouddifferences in conscientiousness scores between REU who engaged in risk-takingudbehaviours versus REU who did not for any domain of risk-taking, andudconscientiousness did not predict engagement in any risk-taking behaviour. On audwhole, findings from Study 1 contributed to the validity of models that implicateudrash-spontaneous impulsivity in contributing to substance use and risk-takingudbehaviours, whilst providing contrary results to models that implicateudconscientiousness’ role in protecting against risk-taking behaviours. Whilst thisudstudy was exploratory in nature, these preliminary findings suggest that the rashspontaneousudfactor of impulsivity plays a role in risky behaviours over and beyondudregular ecstasy use.Study 2 aimed to further investigate the extent to which both factors of Daweudand Loxton’s (2004) model of impulsivity, rash-spontaneous impulsivity and rewardudsensitivity, as well as conscientiousness were able to predict engagement in risktakingudbehaviours as well as harm reduction behaviours in a larger, online sample ofudREU. Study 2 also measured and controlled for the role that attitudes towards sexudand driving practices may play in predicting sexual and driving risk-takingudbehaviours. Results indicated that riskier attitudes towards safer sex were predictiveudof a greater frequency of engagement in risky sexual behaviours. Notably, drivingudattitudes were not successful predictors of drug driving behaviour. In relation toudpersonality, rash-spontaneous impulsivity was a significant predictor of injectingudrisk-taking behaviours, and it approached significance in relation to predicting bingeudand overdose risk-taking behaviours. Additionally, rash-spontaneous impulsivityudwas a significant predictor of harm reduction behaviours in an inverse fashion.udReward sensitivity and conscientiousness were not significant predictor variables inudrelation to any domain of risk-taking or of engaging in harm reduction behaviour.udOn a whole, findings from Study 2 contributed to the validity of models thatudimplicate rash-spontaneous impulsivity in substance use and risk-taking behaviours,udwhilst providing contrary results to the involvement of reward sensitivity andudconscientiousness. The clinical application and usefulness of these results regardingudthe development and implementation of harm reduction programs are discussed.