The Moderation Effect of Gender Role Orientation on the Relationship Between Sex/Gender and UPPS-P Impulsivity Facets

Abstract

Previous research has shown that males and females show strong differences in certain impulsivity facets, specifically sensation seeking and negative urgency. Various theories exist to explain these differences. While biological theories are rooted in ideas that males and females are predestined to be different from each other, social theories provide a counter position, where differences between males and females differ are created by society through social influences. These social influences facilitate the creation of gender role constructs, or gender role orientation—socially-sanctioned male and female behavior via concepts of masculinity and femininity. Differences seen in sex/gender for some impulsivity facets might be rooted in varying levels of masculinity or femininity. Since most sex/gender measures are limited to capturing only sex assigned at birth, and therefore do not include other elements of gender like social roles or social expectations, differences between males and females might have been overlooked or misinterpreted. This study aimed to better understand the influence of gender role orientation (GRO) on impulsivity as measured by the UPPS-P model, defined by five facets of impulsivity: 1) negative urgency, 2) [lack of] perseverance, 3) [lack of] premedication, 4) sensation seeking, and 5) positive urgency. Our study found that levels of GRO did moderate the relationship between sex/gender and impulsivity. Findings suggested that sex/gender incongruency (e.g. where GRO does not align with sex/gender) was associated with higher impulsivity. Masculine females and feminine males might be at greater risk for negative outcomes related to three UPPS-P facets: negative urgency, positive urgency, and [lack of] perseverance