The authors completed a meta-analysis of 13 published research studies examining the relationship between substance-related attentional bias and different conceptualizations of impulsivity.
There was a small and significant effect size between impulsivity and substance-related attentional bias (r = 0.20), which was moderated by impulsivity measurement type (Qb = 5.91, df = 1, p < 0.05): there was a stronger relationship between behavioral impulsivity and substance-related attentional bias (r = 0.22) than trait impulsivity and substance-related attentional bias (r = 0.10). Different components of behavioral impulsivity and trait impulsivity did not affect the relationship.
This study is the first systematic and empirical demonstration of the relationship between substance-related attentional bias and impulsivity and suggests viability of future examinations of casual models relating these constructs. Since trait and behavioral conceptualizations differentially relate to substance-related attentional bias, the current review further supports research suggesting how disaggregation of multidimensional constructs can lead to more robust relationships.