Research has been conducted to understand how high impulsivity connects with boredom, aiming to uncover the reasons behind rash and sometimes harmful decision-making.
Research at the University of Portsmouth has been investigating how high impulsivity relates to feelings of boredom to discover what motivates impulsive and potentially harmful choices.
Impulsivity refers to the inclination to act swiftly without thoroughly considering the consequences. It is associated with various mental health conditions, including ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Substance Use Disorders.
There is a well-established connection between boredom and impulsivity, but recent studies have highlighted the significant role of stress in this dynamic.
The findings, published in Physiology & Behavior, indicated that participants with high levels of trait impulsivity reported feeling more bored after completing a monotonous task. While this outcome was anticipated, a notable new discovery was that these individuals exhibited a stronger physiological response, as evidenced by increased cortisol levels, a stress hormone.
Dr. James Clay, the lead author and researcher at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and Dalhousie University, stated: “Our findings provide insights into the biological factors contributing to why some people, especially those who are highly impulsive, experience boredom as more stressful than others. By understanding their stress response and the role of cortisol, we can start to grasp this phenomenon better and explore specific interventions to help manage these reactions.”
“This opens new paths for creating personalized methods to alleviate stress and enhance mental well-being, particularly for individuals who face challenges with impulse control and the adverse effects of boredom.”
Boredom can be viewed as a psychological stressor for many, as it often leads to a restless sense of dissatisfaction that prompts individuals to seek stimulation. However, it’s possible that more impulsive individuals react differently to stress, contributing to their heightened response to boring situations.
Dr. Matt Parker, the senior author and a neuroscientist specializing in stress research at the University of Surrey, remarked: “We know that people with high impulsivity are more susceptible to developing addictions over time. While the link between impulsivity and boredom has been recognized, the exact mechanisms of this relationship remain unclear.”
“For example, early theories posited that individuals with ADHD struggle with boredom due to their inability to wait, leading them to act impulsively. But what causes this impatience, and how can we make them feel more at ease with boredom?”
“This is where stress comes into play. Our research supports the idea that highly impulsive people undergo stronger physiological reactions to boredom. If we can figure out ways to alleviate these stress responses, we may help them avoid unhealthy coping strategies such as drug use or gambling.”
In the first study, 80 participants engaged in a tedious task and shared their feelings about the experience. The results confirmed previous findings that impulsive individuals tend to experience boredom more intensely than others.
The second study observed the physiological responses of 20 participants to boredom by analyzing saliva samples for cortisol levels, both before and after the task. It was discovered that the body’s stress response system, known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, raised stress hormone levels during the task.
“Understanding that the stress response connects boredom and impulsivity brings us closer to finding solutions to disrupt this cycle,” explained co-author Juan Badariotti from the University of Portsmouth’s School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences.
“We hope this finding will motivate further research into potential interventions to break the feedback loop involving boredom, stress, and impulsiveness, ultimately leading to more effective coping strategies for mental health disorders.”
The authors of the study suggest that future research should involve larger participant groups and additionally focus on measuring their susceptibility to both boredom and impulsivity.
