AUTHOR=Albertella Lucy , Rotaru Kristian , Christensen Erynn , Lowe Amelia , Brierley Mary-Ellen , Richardson Karyn , Chamberlain Samuel R. , Lee Rico S. C. , Kayayan Edouard , Grant Jon E. , Schluter-Hughes Sam , Ince Campbell , Fontenelle Leonardo F. , Segrave Rebecca , Yücel Murat 

TITLE=The Influence of Trait Compulsivity and Impulsivity on Addictive and Compulsive Behaviors During COVID-19

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.634583

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2021.634583

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in high levels of psychological distress worldwide, with experts expressing concern that this could result in corresponding increases in addictive behaviours as individuals seek to cope with their distress. Further, some individuals may be at greater risk than others for developing problematic addictive behaviors during times of high stress, such as individuals with high trait impulsivity and compulsivity. Despite the potential of such knowledge to inform early detection of risk, no study to date has examined the influence of trait impulsivity and compulsivity on addictive behaviours during COVID-19. Toward this aim, the current study examined the association between impulsive and compulsive traits and problematic addictive and compulsive behaviours during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Australia. Methods: 878 adults completed a cross-sectional online survey during the first lockdown, between late May to June 2020. Participants completed scales for addictive and compulsive behaviours for the period prior to and during lockdown for problematic eating, pornography, internet use, gambling, drinking, and obsessive-compulsive behaviours. Negative binomial regressions examined the associations between impulsivity, compulsivity, and their interaction with problematic behaviours during lockdown, controlling for age, gender, sample, psychological distress, exposure to COVID-related stressors, and pre-COVID problems. Results: Greater trait compulsivity was associated with more problematic obsessive-compulsive behaviours (p < .001) and less problematic drinking (p = .038) during lockdown. Further, trait compulsivity interacted with trait impulsivity in relation to problematic eating behaviours (p = .014) such that greater trait compulsivity was associated with more problems among individuals with low impulsivity only (p = .030). Finally, psychological distress and/or exposure to COVID-related stressors were associated with greater problems across all addictive and compulsive behaviours, as was severity of pre-COVID problems. Discussion: Trait compulsivity was associated with addictive and compulsive behaviours in different ways. Further, the finding that stress-related variables (psychological distress and COVID-related stressors) were associated with greater problems across all lockdown behaviours supports the idea that stress may facilitate, or otherwise be associated with, problematic behaviours. These findings highlight the need for interventions that enhance resilience to stress, which in turn may reduce risk for addictive and compulsive disorders.