Lack of Premeditation, Negative Urgency and Sensation Seeking Are Associated with Lifetime Use of Different Psychoactive Substances

Randle, M, Christiansen, P, Duckworth, JJ ORCID: 0000-0002-9475-5839 and Roberts, CA (2025) Lack of Premeditation, Negative Urgency and Sensation Seeking Are Associated with Lifetime Use of Different Psychoactive Substances. Substance Use and Misuse, 61 (8). pp. 1146-1152. ISSN 1082-6084

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Abstract

Background: Impulsivity, anxiety and depression are factors that have previously been associated with the use of various drugs of abuse that have been investigated in isolation. However, little is known about the influence of these variables on the number of different substances tried at least once over a lifetime (i.e. polysubstance use). Objectives: We aimed to assess how facets of trait impulsivity, anxiety and depression pose as risk factors for lifetime polysubstance use. Methods: Adult recreational drugs users (N = 700) completed an online survey, reporting each of the psychoactive substances they have consumed at least once. They further completed the Urgency/Premeditation/Perseverance/Sensation-seeking- Positive Urgency scale (UPPS-P) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). Results: Negative-Binomial Regressions found that females (Incidence Rates Ratios = 0.79, p <.001) reported a lower total number of drugs used. After controlling for age and sex, the UPPS-P subscales Lack of Premeditation (IRR = 1.02, p <.001), Negative Urgency (IRR = 1.02, p =.001) and Sensation seeking (IRR = 1.01, p =.008) were positively associated with a greater number of different substances used. Conclusions: Exploring risk factors for polysubstance use may provide a better understanding of the factors which confer a vulnerability towards problematic / harmful substance use.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Anxiety; depression; substance use; trait impulsivity; UPPS-P; Anxiety; UPPS-P; depression; substance use; trait impulsivity; Humans; Female; Male; Adult; Impulsive Behavior; Substance-Related Disorders; Young Adult; Psychotropic Drugs; Anxiety; Risk Factors; Depression; Middle Aged; Recreational Drug Use; Adolescent; 52 Psychology; 5203 Clinical and Health Psychology; 5201 Applied and Developmental Psychology; Mental Illness; Mental Health; Behavioral and Social Science; Drug Abuse (NIDA only); Substance Misuse; Depression; Brain Disorders; 3 Good Health and Well Being; Humans; Female; Male; Adult; Impulsive Behavior; Substance-Related Disorders; Young Adult; Psychotropic Drugs; Anxiety; Risk Factors; Depression; Middle Aged; Recreational Drug Use; Adolescent; 1117 Public Health and Health Services; 1701 Psychology; Substance Abuse; 4206 Public health; 5201 Applied and developmental psychology; 5203 Clinical and health psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Date of acceptance:	30 November 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	21 July 2026
Date Deposited:	21 Jul 2026 14:05
Last Modified:	21 Jul 2026 14:05
DOI or ID number:	10.1080/10826084.2025.2598399
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29033

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