Examinations of change in inhibitory and initiatory Self-Control in the context of endurance running

Abstract

Endurance activities provide a key context for positive development. Using data from a longitudinal study of 398 adolescents and emerging adults participating in a charity marathon event, this study examined the multidimensionality of self-control, documented longitudinal change in inhibitory and initiatory self-control across program participation, and examined associations between inhibitory and initiatory self-control and sport performance. Initiatory self-control evidenced significant declines across the course of training and running the endurance race. Initial levels of initiatory self-control predicted faster race times, whereas initial levels of inhibitory control and declines in initiatory self-control predicted worse performance. Changes in both aspects of self-control differed based on the types of contingencies of self-worth runners reported. Results highlight the predictive utility of multidimensional accounts of self-control for program outcomes. Findings advance understanding of how involvement in sporting contexts contribute to within-person change in some, but not all, aspects of self-control. Lay summary: The present study investigated the impact of marathon running on self-control in adolescents. Findings suggest that marathon running affected “start control” and “stop control” differently. Sources from which adolescents derived their self-worth mattered; those who based their self-worth on performance had lower levels of self-control than those who based their self-worth on virtues. Implications for practice A multidimensional view of self-control may help coaches and practitioners develop personalized strategies for young people to restrain from counterproductive behaviors and engage in activities consistent with goal attainment. Performance-enhancement strategies may be particularly strengthened by efforts to help sustain initiatory self-control over the course of training for an endurance event. Character and virtue development through sports may depend on the messages that young people internalize about where they derive their self-worth.