The first hypothesis was self-regulation and future orientation would mediate the effects of age on delay discounting. The second hypothesis was future orientation would be a stronger mediator than self-regulation of the effects of age on delay discounting. The third hypothesis was sensation seeking would moderate these mediation effects. A total of 216 participants, ranging from 12 years old to 18 years old, completed the Future Orientation Scale (Steinberg, Graham, O’Brien, Woolard, Cauffman, & Banich, 2009), the Self-Regulation Questionnaire (Neal & Carey, 2005), the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale (Whiteside & Lynam, 2001), the Original Monetary Choice Questionnaire (Kirby, Petry, & Bickel, 1999), and the general demographics survey on Inquisit. Andrew Hayes’ (2013) PROCESS program was used to analyze mediation and moderated mediation models. Mediation and moderated-mediation were not supported. It’s possible a restriction in age range, selection bias and/or attrition bias, and inappropriate measurement of delay discounting led to null results. Furthermore, using longitudinal designs and including multiple measures of self-regulation, future orientation, and delay discounting in future research may better represent adolescents’ decision making
