Impulse Control Impairments and Non-Referred Conduct Problems

• Other Authors: Counts, Carla A. (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Psychology
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-3360

Nigg (2001) recently proposed a disinhibition taxonomy that shows promise in isolating unique impulse control impairments related to child conduct problems. The current study investigated the relation between distinct inhibitory processes (i.e., executive and motivational inhibition), ADHD hyperactivity/impulsivity, and conduct problem symptoms in a non-referred and mixed-gender sample of children. Based on recent research, it was predicted that hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms would bear a unique relation to executive inhibition difficulties indexed by a computerized stop signal task. In contrast, conduct problems were expected to bear a unique relation to motivational inhibition difficulties indexed by a computerized reward dominance task. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit a non-referred sample of 93 elementary aged children (42 boys and 51 girls) from a larger screening sample of 2nd to 7th graders enrolled in a local public school. Bivariate and regression analyses provided no support for study predictions. Levels of ADHD and conduct problem symptoms were essentially unrelated to inhibition task performance in the current study. Implications of the null findings as well as recommendations for future studies are discussed. === A Thesis submitted to the Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. === Summer Semester, 2005. === July 6, 2005. === Executive Functions, Motivational Impairment, Child Externalizing Behavior, Disinhibition === Includes bibliographical references. === Bryan R. Loney, Professor Directing Thesis; Janet Kistner, Committee Member; Christopher Schatschneider, Committee Member.