University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Impulse-control or impulse and control? Is impulse-control one, two, or more constructs? Development of domain specific impulse-control (DSIC) measure

Yoon, Hee Jun Roy

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132612

Description

Title
Impulse-control or impulse and control? Is impulse-control one, two, or more constructs? Development of domain specific impulse-control (DSIC) measure
Author(s)
Yoon, Hee Jun Roy
Issue Date
2025-08-18
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Roberts, Brent W
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Roberts, Brent W
Committee Member(s)
  • Napolitano, Christopher
  • Briley, D.A.
  • Zhang, Bo
  • Hankin, Benjamin
Department of Study
Psychology
Discipline
Psychology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Impulse Control, Bifactor Model, Personality Development, Factor Analysis, Predictive Analysis
Abstract
Impulse control is a well-established predictor of important life outcomes, including health, academic performance, and workplace success. However, traditional measures often conflate distinct psychological processes by failing to distinguish between the urge to act (impulse) and the ability to regulate that urge (control), and by neglecting the contextual specificity of different impulse domains. This dissertation introduces and validates a novel Domain-Specific Impulse-Control (DSIC) measure that differentiates impulse and control across eight behavioral domains: smartphone use, buying, eating, alcohol use, drug use, smoking, sex, and gambling. Across seven diverse samples (N ≈ 2,500), including samples with elevated impulse-control concerns, structural equation modeling was used to test multiple factor structures. The findings supported a bifactor model in which both general and domain-specific factors of impulse and control explained unique variance. Domain-specific DSIC scores showed distinct associations with personality traits, health behaviors, and clinical outcomes. Additionally, developmental analyses across the lifespan revealed that age was equally associated with changes in impulses and controls. These findings advance the conceptualization of impulse control as a multidimensional and context-sensitive construct and offer a foundation for more precise assessment and targeted interventions.
Graduation Semester
2025-12
Type of Resource
Thesis
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132612
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2025 Hee Jun Yoon

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