Research from the University of Portsmouth has explored the link between high impulsivity and boredom to better understand what drives rash and sometimes unhealthy decisions. Impulsivity, the tendency to act quickly without considering consequences, is associated with psychiatric disorders like ADHD and substance use disorders. While the connection between boredom and impulsiveness is well-established, two new studies have revealed the role stress plays in this relationship.
Published in Physiology & Behavior, the research found that participants with high impulsivity reported higher levels of boredom after completing a dull task. While this was expected, a new discovery was that these individuals also experienced a stronger physiological response by releasing more of the stress hormone cortisol. Dr James Clay, lead author of the study, explained,
“Our findings shed light on the biological underpinnings of why some individuals, particularly those with high impulsivity, find boredom more stressful than others. By identifying how their stress response is triggered, and that cortisol is a key mediator, we can begin to better understand why this happens and to explore targeted interventions that help manage these reactions.”
Boredom is generally a form of psychological stress, often leading people to seek stimulation. However, for more impulsive individuals, their heightened stress response to boredom may explain why they are more affected by it. Dr Matt Parker, senior author and a neuroscientist, added,
“We know highly impulsive people are more likely to develop addictions over a lifespan. There has always been a connection between impulsiveness and boredom, but the mechanisms behind this relationship aren’t fully understood.”
He suggested that stress might be the key: “If we can find ways to mitigate these stress symptoms it might prevent them from seeking unhealthy stress reliefs, like drugs or gambling.”
The first study involved 80 participants completing a boring task, and impulsive individuals were found to be more prone to boredom. In a second study, 20 participants’ physiological responses were monitored through saliva samples, showing an increase in cortisol levels during the task. This confirmed the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in managing the body’s stress response.
Co-author Juan Badariotti stated, “Knowing that the stress response links boredom with impulsivity brings us a step closer to developing potential solutions to break the cycle.” The researchers hope future studies will build on this work to develop interventions for managing the stress-boredom-impulsiveness cycle, potentially offering better coping strategies for psychiatric disorders.
