Study: Bladder control may reduce impulsive behavior

By Staff Writer

A new study reveals that a full bladder may help people restrain their impulses, whereas an empty bladder can lead to more irrational decisions.

The report, which appears in the report Psychological Science, was conducted by researchers at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. The primary experiment asked participants to consume five full cups of water or take small sips from each cup. After 40 minutes - which is the amount of time it takes water to reach the bladder - they were presented with eight questions that measured their decision-making.

For example, one of the questions gave participants the opportunity to receive $16 the next day or $30 in a month. They found that individuals who had full bladders were more likely to hold out for the delayed, but larger, award, while those who had emptier bladders were more impulsive, opting for instant gratification.

The researchers were somewhat surprised by the results because they assumed, prior to the study, that people who had the urge to go the bathroom may be less likely to restrain their impulses. However, the opposite was true. They surmise that people who show discipline by controlling their bladder may shift that behavior to other aspects of their life.

Problem teens who have impulsive habits, such as alcohol abuse or sexual activity, may benefit from boarding schools, which aim to help adolescents control their urges.