SIR Medicine Investigation Abstract
DEMOGRAPHIC EFFECTS ON IMPULSIVITY
Presenter:
Mi (Amy) Chen, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506
Mentor:
Dr. Harriet de Wit, University of Chicago
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine demographic effects on impulsivity, as defined by the inability to see long-term consequences. Impulsivity in a person is directly correlated with his/her likelihood to use drugs.
Basic demographic data, including age, years of education, family income, and gender, was obtained from the 830 human subjects who participated in this study. The subjects also took an IQ test, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), and performed the behavioral task, Delay Discounting Task (DDT), in which they were asked to make some choices about (hypothetical) money available immediately or after some amount of time. The data obtained was analyzed through the statistical program SPSS to determine correlations between the demographics and measures of impulsivity.
While age was not correlated with impulsivity, all other demographics were significantly correlated. Age didn't correlate because the subjects were all past adolescent age (>30 years), but their years of education, family income, and gender affected their impulsivity.