Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

Problem: Previous research has shown a significant relationship between impulsivity and hair pulling. To date, however, little research has examined this relationship in other body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), such as skin picking and nail biting. The purpose of the current study is to examine these relationships; we predict that students with high scores on a task of impulsivity will report higher skin picking and nail biting severity.

Method: Two hundred and sixty undergraduate students at Kent State University completed the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales, Nail Biting Scale, Skin Picking Scale, and the Stop-Signal Task as part of a larger assessment battery.

Results: Two hierarchical regression analyses showed non-significant relationships between impulsivity and nail biting/skin picking, after controlling for anxiety and depression scores.