Assessing impulsivity in adolescents: Psychometric properties of the Spanish short S-UPPS-P

BACKGROUND: The short S-UPPS-P is a 20-item self-report tool for assessing impulsivity in adolescents, differentiating five dimensions: Negative Urgency, Lack of Perseverance, Lack of Premeditation, Sensation Seeking, and Positive Urgency. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish S-UPPS-P and to establish normative data for adolescents in Spain. METHOD: Participants were 8,944 adolescent students (ages 11-19) from 66 high schools and 789 adolescent psychotherapy patients from 7 centers. RESULTS: The expected 5-factor model, evaluated with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), showed insufficient fit (CFI and TLI ≤ .90, RMSEA = .076). However, an exploratory approach yielded satisfactory results (CFI and TLI ≥ .97, RMSEA ≤ .036), with full measurement invariance across age, gender and sample type. Internal consistency reliability ranged from moderate to excellent (ω = .67-.82). Convergent validity with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale total score was satisfactory (r = .47-.59). No significant differences in scale scores were observed across gender, age, or sample type, providing the use of a single norm. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the S-UPPS-P as a valid, reliable tool for assessing impulsivity in Spanish adolescents. The availability of standardized norms enhances its utility in clinical and educational contexts.