Longitudinal associations between impulsivity and lie‐telling in childhood and adolescence

• Published in: Developmental science Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. e13370 - n/a
• Main Authors: Dykstra, Victoria W., Turchio, Vanessa M., Willoughby, Teena, Evans, Angela D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley 01.07.2023; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: adolescence; Adolescents; Cheating; Child development; childhood; Children; Conceptual Tempo; Deception; Impulsive behavior; Impulsivity; lie‐telling; longitudinal; Longitudinal Studies; adolescence; impulsivity; childhood; deception; lie-telling; longitudinal
• ISSN: 1363-755X; 1467-7687
• DOI: 10.1111/desc.13370

Lie‐telling and impulsivity levels peak during late childhood to early adolescence and have been suggested to be related. Heightened impulsivity may lead adolescents to lie in favor of short‐term benefits without consideration for the potential consequences of deception. The present study assessed longitudinal relations between self‐reported impulsivity and lie‐telling frequency. Participants from a large‐scale longitudinal study (N = 1148; Mage = 11.55, SD = 1.69, 9–15 years at Time 1) reported on their impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale) and their frequency of lie‐telling to parents, to teachers, to friends, and about cheating across two time points 1 year apart. Cross‐lagged path analysis revealed greater impulsivity was associated with more frequent lie‐telling to parents, friends, and teachers, and about cheating over time. Our findings demonstrate the role of impulsivity in the development of lie‐telling behaviors. Research Highlights Impulsivity predicts lying across time in multiple contexts (to parents, friends, teachers, and about cheating). Previous research has demonstrated the role of top‐down influences on lie‐telling, but the current study suggests that bottom‐up processes are also influential.