Gender and Self‐Control Theory: Are There Differences in the Measures and the Theory's Causal Model?

Abstract

This study examined the distribution differences across genders in key measures from self‐control theory and differences in its central model. The study used responses to multiple measures of self‐control, parental management, and a single measure of deviance from 425 college students. The findings show that all the measures are different across genders. In addition, using structural equation modeling and multiple group structural equation modeling, the findings show the central model for males and females were similar. The findings suggest that self‐control theory is general in the sense that its central model is usable for male and female deviance.