Self-Reported Impulsivity Predicts Missed Study Appointments: Validating a German Adaptation of the BIS-11

Impulsivity influences behavioral tendencies and can contribute to dysfunction both in everyday life and in psychopathology. A common measure of impulsivity is the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), a widely-used self-report questionnaire currently in its 11 th version (BIS-11). In this validation study, we integrated several German translations into a unified version and evaluated its factor structure as well as its construct and criterion validity. The original factor structure of motor, attentional and non-planning impulsivity was not supported in our data, as factor analyses yielded poor model fit. Nonetheless, the validity of the BIS-11 sum score was supported by associations with other impulsivity-related questionnaires (UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale, Brief Self-Control Scale) and differentiation from unrelated constructs (UPPS sensation seeking, trait anxiety). We found no links between BIS-11 scores and behavioral performance in response inhibition and automaticity tasks. Crucially, higher BIS-11 scores predicted participants’ dependability, as indexed by missed study appointments, thus linking the questionnaire to everyday behavior. In sum, although we could not reliably detect the BIS-11’s factor structure in our data, our findings support its use as a valid overall measure of impulsivity that relates meaningfully to everyday functioning.