Rash Impulsivity, Sensitivity to Reward and Ecstacy Use - Lab Report Example

Rash Impulsivity, Sensitivity to Reward and Ecstacy (MDMA) use An examination of the effect of the rash impulsivity and sensitivity of rewards towards the ecstasy (MDMA) use was the main basis for this study. Through the conduct and analysis of primary data, the study engaged the use of statistical techniques in determining the relationship between the variables for a total of 208 research participants. Based on the results from the frequency distribution table, the participants, in relation to gender were distributed in the proportion that 39.4% were male (82 males) and 60.6% of the participants were females (126 females), with minimal age being 18 and a maximum of 50 years at mean of 23.41 and a standard deviation of 5.153. The measured variables in this study included the rash impulsivity, sensitivity to reward and the frequency of ecstasy use. Self-administered questionnaires (flyers) were used to collect the data and assess the response to the variables by the respondents and from which statistical analyses were based. According to the multiple regression tests that were conducted, it was revealed that there was sensitivity to reward and the ecstasy frequency had a significant effect on the rash impulsivity. As such, when evaluated from the basis of current findings, it is suggested that the ecstasy use is the determination of the sensitivity to reward and the rash impulsivity. However, limitations are also noted that are perceived as having direct influential effect on the frequency of ecstasy. Background While the link between impulsivity and substance use is well-established, it is also clear that the way impulsivity and substance use are measured impacts on the strength of this relationship. For example, although earlier studies measured the impulsivity as a uni-dimensional construct, it is now acknowledged that impulsivity comprises two separate dimensions (rash impulsivity and sensitivity to reward). The extent to which both of these dimensions are related to substance use is unclear. Likewise, results are likely to differ depending on whether substance use is based on a categorical (user versus non-user) or continuous version of the construct (i.e. frequency of use). As a result, it would be meaningful to scrutinize the link between ecstasy use and impulsivity from both a continuous and categorical perspective, using the same sample. Research Questions 1. Do users and non-users of ecstasy differ in their level of the rash impulsivity? 2. Do users and non-users of ecstasy differ in their level of sensitivity to reward? 3. Is frequency of ecstasy use predicted by the rash impulsivity and sensitivity to reward? Research Hypotheses 1. H0: The users and non-users of ecstasy differ in their level of the rash impulsivity. HA: The users and non-users of ecstasy do not differ in their level of the rash impulsivity. 2. H0: The users and non-users of ecstasy differ in their level of sensitivity to reward. HA: The users and non-users of ecstasy do not differ in their level of sensitivity to reward. 3. H0: The frequency of ecstasy use is predicted by the rash impulsivity and sensitivity to reward. HA: The frequency of ecstasy use is not predicted by the rash impulsivity and sensitivity to reward. INTRODUCTION In the world today, the use of ecstasy is largely spreading and the same is a common factor especially in Australia. The same is also a true factor in countries that are found in Europe with most studies pointing to an increased prevalence of its use among the youth especially in countries such as Germany, UK, Spain, Netherlands and other pronounced parts of Central and Eastern Europe. According to the surveys that have been conducted in Australia alone, about 1% to 3% of the general population used ecstasy between the periods of 1990 to 1995. However, in this report, the prevalence rate was higher in young females of between ages 14 to 24 in which 9% were reported to be engaged in ecstasy use. This trend for the use of ecstasy has been rising in contemporary times among the young generation aged between 18 to 28 years. In another study by Degenhardt et al., (2004), the analyzed data from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey of 2001, indicate that there is a high prevalence rate of ecstasy use among the youth aged between 14 and 29 years. Based on comparisons drawn between users and non-users over a period of 12 months, it is reported that nearly 6.1% of the Australians as at 2001, were on lifetime ecstasy use with one in ten persons having used ecstasy in the recent past. Therefore, this considers the use of ecstasy as the third ranked after cannabis and amphetamines, implying its great significance to sensitivity and impulsivity. Rash impulsivity refers to the determination of the behavior of an individual taking into consideration their response to reward sensitivities and the use of ecstasy. To an extent, the correlation between the rash impulsivity and sensitivity to reward has a great impact on the use of ecstasy among different persons. However, rash impulsivity differs from sensitivity to reward in the sense that sensitivity to reward relates to a personality characteristic that is firmly entrenched in the neurobiology of the system of mesolimbic dopamine. This reward is largely associated with the addiction risks among persons. In a study by Eysenck et al., (1985), this difference is largely expressed through the association of impulsiveness to extraversion, sociability and liveliness. This also expresses a two-form factor model of impulsivity in that it is shown as being expressed by both neuroticism and extraversion. In this, impulsivity is expressed as reacting based on two forms; one in correspondence to extraversion and the second in correspondence to psychoticism. According to a study by Topp et al., (1999), there have been varied patterns of usage of ecstasy and while, in the early times, the use among the youths was self-limited, controlled by low levels of injections and few resultant health effects, the scenario has drastically changed with most users likely to suffer from serious negative side effects should use of ecstasy be not controlled. In Australia, upon the realization of the negative effects of the same, most users have had to discontinue usage of the same or use it intermittently so as to allow for the dissipation of tolerance. Thus, the aims of the study by Topp et al., (1999), of examining ecstasy patterns and the perceptions of subjects using it appear to be in line with this study’s objectives. In another study by Torrubia et al., (2001), the behavioral inhibition and activation systems that control appetitive and aversive behaviors are examined. Through the illustration of the psychometric characteristics of sensitivity to reward, a relationship based on ecstasy use is established in relation to the personality traits of Gray. Therefore, based on the theories of addiction, it can be eluded that the same corresponds to the aim of this study which was in relation to the determination of ecstasy use based on sensitivity reward and the rash impulsivity. Thus, it can be predicted that the level of the rash impulsivity and sensitivity to reward will jointly be significantly different for the users of ecstasy upon the conduct of a t-test analysis. Subsequently, it is expected that the frequency of ecstasy use will be determined by the sensitivity to reward and the rash impulsivity when based on a standard multiple regression tests. METHOD Participants A total of 280 respondents were included in the study from among students from Deakin University, with 82 being males while 126 were females. The age range for these participants was from 18 to 50 years of age and proportionally, the study comprised of 39.4% males and 60.6% females. The mean age as produced from the statistical analysis by SPSS revealed a mean of 23.41 and a standard deviation of 5.153. Based on the categories for ecstasy use, 135 (64.9%) of the participants were users of ecstasy while the non-users were 73 (proportionally represented as 35.1%). Materials Ecstasy use Participants were requested to report on how frequently they used ecstasy in the past year. This formed the basis for both categorical and continuous measures of ecstasy use. For the categorical approach, responses to this item were re-coded into 0 (non-user) or 1 (user – any value greater than 0). Sensitivity to reward The 24-item sensitivity to reward (SR) subscale of the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (Torrubia, Avila, Molto & Caseras, 2001) was used in the present study. Participants give ‘yes/no’ responses to specific statements relating to sensitivity to reward (e.g., ‘Does the good panorama of procuring money inspire you powerfully to do some things?’). Values of 1 are assigned to ‘Yes’ responses, and 0 to ‘No’ responses. Participants’ responses are summed and higher scores reflect greater sensitivity to reward. The SR scale possesses adequate internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and factorial validity (Cooper & Gomez, 2008; Torrubia et al., 2001). Rash impulsivity The impulsiveness subscale of Eysenck and Eysenck’s (1978) Impulsiveness, Venturesomeness, and Empathy scale was used to measure the rash impulsivity. This subscale consists of 19 questions which respondents answer in a Yes/No format, with responses of ‘No’ assigned a value of 0 and ‘Yes’ responses assigned values of 1. An example question is ‘Would you enjoy water skiing?’ Responses are added up together to produce an inclusive score for the rash impulsivity, with higher scores reflecting greater impulsivity. This scale has demonstrated psychometric properties (Eysenck et al., 1985) and has been used in previous studies of ecstasy use (e.g., Parrott et al., 2000). Procedure Participants were recruited from undergraduate courses offered at Deakin University. Announcements were made at the beginning of lectures to advertise the study to students. Flyers were left at the entrance to the lecture theatre and students who were interested in participating were invited to pick up a flyer at the end of class. The flyers contained a weblink which students could use to access and fill out the survey online. RESULTS Descriptive Statistics Subjecting the collected data to statistical analysis through the use of the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) software, the obtained values for the descriptive statistics are as shown in modified table 1 below from table 3 of SPSS output. Table 1: Means, standard deviations, and range of actual scores for key variables Variables N Minimum Maximum Mean Standard Deviation Age (Years) 208 18 50 23.41 5.153 Ecstasy use frequency 208 .00 18.00 3.7500 3.82276 Rash impulsivity subscale score 208 .00 18.00 5.7212 3.62748 Sensitivity to reward subscale score 208 .00 18.00 8.5529 4.97405 Valid N (List wise) 208 This table is a representation of the means, standard deviations, and ranges of the scores (minimum and maximum) for the various variables for the study. References Butler, G. K. L., & Montgomery, A. M. J. (2004). Impulsivity, risk taking and recreational ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) use. Drug and alcohol dependence, 76(1), 55-62. Cooper, A., & Gomez, R. (2008). The development of a short form of the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire. Journal of Individual Differences, 29, 90-104. Dawe, S., Gullo, M. J., & Loxton, N. J. (2004). Reward drive and rash impulsiveness as dimensions of impulsivity: implications for substance misuse. Addictive behaviors, 29(7), 1389-1405. Degenhardt, L., Barker, B., & Topp, L. (2004). Patterns of ecstasy use in Australia: findings from a national household survey. Addiction, 99(2), 187-195. Eysenck, S.B.G., & Eysenck, H.J. (1978). Impulsiveness and venturesomeness: Their position in a dimensional system of personality description. Psychological Reports, 43, 1247-1255. Eysenck, S. B., Pearson, P. R., Easting, G., & Allsopp, J. F. (1985). Age norms for impulsiveness, venturesomeness and empathy in adults. Personality and individual differences, 6(5), 613-619. Parrott, A. C., Sisk, E., & Turner, J. J. D. (2000). Psychobiological problems in heavy ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) polydrug users. Drug and alcohol dependence, 60(1), 105-110. Topp, L., Hando, J., Dillon, P., Roche, A., & Solowij, N. (1999). Ecstasy use in Australia: patterns of use and associated harm. Drug and alcohol dependence, 55(1), 105-115. Torrubia, R., Avila, C., Moltó, J., & Caseras, X. (2001). The Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ) as a measure of Grays anxiety and impulsivity dimensions. Personality and Individual Differences, 31(6), 837-862. Read More