Emotion‐related impulsivity across transdiagnostic dimensions of psychopathology

Objective Several dimensions have received attention for their potential role in explaining shared variance in transdiagnostic symptoms of psychopathology. We hypothesized emotion‐related impulsivity, the trait‐like tendency toward difficulty restraining responses to emotion, would relate to symptoms of psychopathology, with two separable dimensions of emotion‐related impulsivity relating distinctly to internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Method Across two studies, we tested hypotheses using structural equation models of emotion‐related impulsivity and multiple indicators of internalizing, externalizing, and thought symptoms. Results In Study 1 (658 undergraduates), emotion‐related impulsivity was highly correlated with the general psychopathology (p) factor. In study 2 (421 Mechanical Turk participants), models did not support a general p factor; however, we replicated the hypothesized associations of emotion‐related impulsivity dimensions with internalizing and externalizing factors. Across both studies, forms of emotion‐related impulsivity uniquely and differentially related to internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Conclusions Findings indicate emotion‐related impulsivity may help explain transdiagnostic dimensions of psychopathology, such as the p factor.