title: A self-regulatory model of behavioral disinhibition in late adolescence: integrating personality traits, externalizing psychopathology, and cognitive capacity.
abstract: Two samples with heterogeneous prevalence of externalizing psychopathology were used to investigate the structure of self-regulatory models of behavioral disinhibition and cognitive capacity. Consistent with expectations, structural equation modeling in the first sample (N=541) showed a hierarchical model with 3 lower order factors of impulsive sensation seeking, antisociality/unconventionality, and lifetime externalizing problem counts, with a behavioral disinhibition superfactor best accounted for the pattern of covariation among 6 disinhibited personality trait indicators and 4 externalizing problem indicators. The structure was replicated in a second sample (N=463) and showed that the behavioral disinhibition superfactor, and not the lower order impulsive sensation seeking, antisociality/unconventionality, and externalizing problem factors, was associated with lower IQ, reduced short-term memory capacity, and reduced working memory capacity. The results provide a systemic and meaningful integration of major self-regulatory influences during a developmentally important stage of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th St., Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. tbogg@indiana.edu
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bogg
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Finn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D041923:Adolescent Development; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010551:Personality; D010556:Personality Tests; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D055815:Young Adult