El precio de actuar sin pensar: cómo la impulsividad se relaciona con el bienestar psicológico.

Abstract

Impulsivity is a psychological trait that interferes with emotional self-regulation and is associated with difficulties in psychological well-being, especially among young adults. In the Ecuadorian context, where urban youth face social, economic, and emotional stressors, studying this relationship is essential to understanding its impact on mental health. The present study aimed to analyze the relationship between impulsivity levels and psychological well-being in Ecuadorian young adults living in urban contexts, using the DERS and BIEPS-A instruments.A quantitative, correlational design was applied with a sample of 1,131 participants aged 20 to 40 years. The results revealed a significant negative correlation between impulsivity (difficulties in emotion regulation) and overall psychological well-being (r = –0.326, p < .001). Specifically, the impulse control dimension showed the strongest association with well-being (r = –0.334), mainly affecting areas such as self-acceptance, autonomy, and interpersonal bonds.These findings indicate that emotional dysregulation compromises psychological well-being in an integral way, and that impulsivity represents a relevant risk factor for urban youth. It is concluded that strengthening emotion regulation may serve as an effective intervention pathway to promote well-being in this population group. The study provides local evidence useful for the development of preventive and psychotherapeutic programs that are culturally contextualized.