Predictors of Self-Control During Emerging Adulthood: The Roles of Implicit Beliefs and Early Risk

This study explored how early adverse experiences (i.e., low socioeconomic status, household chaos, attachment insecurity) and implicit beliefs about self-control (i.e., whether self-control is a limited or nonlimited resource) were associated with trait and momentary self-control in a sample of college students. As the first study to explore these factors together, individuals’ implicit beliefs were tested as a moderator and meditator of the association between early risk and self-control. Participants (N = 214) first completed a baseline survey with the main predictors and trait self-control, followed by one week of experience sampling to assess momentary self-control, or success resisting desires. SPSS was used to conduct analyses with data collected at baseline, and HLM version 8 and Mplus version 8 were used for analyses with data collected via experience sampling. Higher levels of early risks predicted lower levels of trait self-control and less successful resistance against desires. Individuals who believed self-control was nonlimited reported higher trait self-control and marginally better success at resisting desires. Individuals’ beliefs did not moderate the association between early risks and trait or momentary self-control. There was an indirect effect of early risk on trait self-control through individuals’ implicit beliefs. However, this pattern was not found for momentary self-control. Together, these results indicated that implicit beliefs may partially explain the link between accumulated early risks and self-control, but that other contextual factors may play a large role for momentary self-control. This study offers a possible explanation for how early risk is associated with self-control, and a promising target for future interventions for individuals who have low self-control

High-Intensity Pleasure and Self-Regulation in Adolescence

Much research exists on the importance of high-intensity pleasure and self-regulation predicting various outcomes in adolescence. Less well understood is how these constructs interact. The present study includes 116 adolescents (Mage = 15.50, 61.7% male) and a participating parent. The present studied investigated if self-regulation moderated the association between high- intensity pleasure and adolescent outcomes including depressive symptoms, substance use, interpersonal functioning, and academic functioning. Covarying age and gender, main and moderation effects were examined with hierarchical linear regression and logistic regression analyses. More high-intensity pleasure only predicted parent-rated adolescent interpersonal functioning. Self-regulation predicted less likelihood of alcohol use in the past three months and marginally predicted fewer number of substances tried, and significantly predicted fewer depressive symptoms, more frequent school-related positive events, and more frequent interpersonal positive events. Self-regulation moderated the negative association between high- intensity pleasure and interpersonal positive events so that those with less desire for novelty and excitement and more regulatory abilities had significantly more frequent positive events than those with fewer regulatory abilities. Although there were limited findings with only some main effects and three interactions, the findings indicate that it is important to consider both high- intensity pleasure and self-regulation because they predict adolescent outcomes in nuanced ways. Research should continue to study these important constructs to be better prepared to intervene with negative outcomes and enhance positive outcomes