Stability Of Self-control Research Articles

Testing stability of self-control over time among South Korean Youth using semi-parametric group-based modeling

Gottfredson and Hirschi argued the self-control theory in A General Theory of Crime (1990). Since then, many studies have examined the central proposition of low self-control as the cause of criminal behavior with cross-sectional data. However, few research studies have tested other stability propositions that low self-control is stable across the life-course and that once it is established at age 8 to 10, it remains relatively stable regardless of life changes. The purpose of this study was to examine stability postulate of the self-control theory. The current study used six-wave panel data of the Korean Children & Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS), which measured self-control of elementary school students at one year each of time points. The test of relative stability hypothesis comprises four analyses of data: correlations, individual change scores, SGM (Semi-parametric Group-based Modeling), and Multinomial Logistic Regression. Results revealed that the hypothesis of self-control stability was not strongly supported by the longitudinal data. Based on prior empirical research and this study’s finding, more research is needed to determine the stability of self-control.

The stability of self-control in a population-representative study

The stability of self-control in a population-representative study

The relationship between self-control and symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with eating disorders: a cross-sectional study including exploratory longitudinal data

BackgroundPersonality style can partly be described as the way an individual controls and regulates emotions and can be divided into over- and undercontrol. Studies have indicated that personality style may impact the onset, clinical presentation, and recovery from an eating disorder (ED). Furthermore, symptoms of anxiety and depression are common in patients with EDs. However, the association between self-control levels and anxiety/depression symptoms in patients with EDs remains unknown. The main aim of this study was to assess how levels of self-control relate to anxiety/depression symptoms in patients with EDs, with a secondary, exploratory aim to assess the stability of self-control during treatment.MethodsPatients were recruited from the outpatient ED clinic at the Uppsala University Hospital, between October 2014 and December 2019. In total, 227 patients (age: 25.4, SD: 7.1) were included at the start of their treatment, with 14 participants also completing post-treatment measurements. Self-control was assessed with the Ego Undercontrol scale (EUC-13), anxiety/depression symptoms with the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (HSCL-25), and ED diagnosis and symptoms with the Eating Disorder Examination Interview (EDE-I) and Questionnaire (EDE-Q), respectively.ResultsA quadratic regression (n = 227) showed that levels of self-control accounted for about four percent of the variance in degree of global anxiety/depressive symptoms. Anxiety/depression symptoms were better explained by ED symptoms (R2 = 0.24). Visualizations in boxplots revealed a tendency for extreme values of both over- and undercontrol to be associated with higher levels of depression, whereas symptoms of anxiety increased with increasing undercontrol. In the exploratory analyses (n = 14) levels of self-control remained more stable than symptoms of anxiety and depression, which decreased significantly during ED treatment.ConclusionsOur results indicated that anxiety/depression symptoms, in patients with EDs, were not strongly correlated with levels of self-control, but rather with ED symptoms. However, extreme values of both over- and undercontrol showed a tendency to be associated with higher levels of depression symptoms, whereas anxiety symptoms increased with increasing levels of undercontrol. Future studies could benefit from considering both over- and undercontrol as potentially dysfunctional.

The Stability of Self-Control in a Population Representative Study

The Stability of Self-Control in a Population Representative Study

The Stability of Self-Control in a Population Representative Study

The Stability of Self-Control in a Population Representative Study

Revisiting the Concept of Stability in the General Theory of Crime

The general theory proposes that self-control exerts a relatively stable effect on behaviors across the life course. Most studies have examined the stability of self-control itself, rather than whether it leads to persistent patterns of offending that differ between low and high self-control groups. This article examines this alternative idea of stability by tracing patterns of offending over time. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth—Child and Young Adult Data, we find that the level of childhood self-control predicts deviance in every age group. The patterns of offending indicate there are stable differences, with low self-control leading to involvement in a greater range of deviant behavior at every age. The theoretical and policy implications of this stability are discussed.

Self-control during adolescence: Examining the stability of low self-control and the effects of parental social controls

This study examines the stability of and change in self-control during adolescence and investigates the reciprocal relationship of self-control and parental social control. German three-wave panel data with two age cohorts (11–13 and 15–17 years, total N = 1423) are analyzed. Latent growth curve and path models are applied to investigate developmental trajectories. Findings suggest (a) no evidence for the relative stability of self-control, (b) parental controls do matter after the formative years, and (c) low self-control influences the perception of parental controls in early adolescence. In sum, results support a dynamic perspective with reciprocal influences of self-control and social control.

Relationship between stability of self-control and university life maladaptation

Relationship between stability of self-control and university life maladaptation

Self-control stability and change for incarcerated juvenile offenders

PurposeFew studies have examined self-control stability with samples of serious offenders. This study examined incarcerated juvenile offenders to determine (1) if changes in self-control occur during confinement and (2) whether self-control changes affect functioning inside the facility and reoffending after release. MethodsThe analysis used data from a sample of male and female juvenile offenders in Florida who were released from a residential program in 2010–11. Self-control and functioning inside the facility were measured with risk assessment data collected at the beginning and end of the residential confinement. Reoffending was assessed for the 12months after release. ResultsAbsolute and relative changes in self-control were common, and the absolute changes overwhelmingly involved improvement. This led to improved functioning inside the facility and decreased odds of adjudication for a new offense. Follow-up analyses revealed a key difference between males and females—for reoffending in particular, effects of self-control change were observed only among females. ConclusionsJuvenile confinement in settings with evidence-based rehabilitation programming can produce self-control improvement. These improvements, in turn, are associated with contemporaneous improvements in behavior during confinement. These shifts also may lower recidivism after release, but this pattern appears less likely among males.

Stability in the Underlying Constructs of Self-Control

The stability of self-control represents a recently popular empirical topic; however, little attention has been paid to the stability of the underlying constructs of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s conception of self-control. The present study uses longitudinal data on youth residing in the northeastern United States and employs trajectory analysis to explore the presence of varying developmental trends in these constructs. The findings indicate that these constructs follow unique and varied trajectories that may help to elucidate issues with our understanding of the stability of self-control.

Assessing the Determinants and Stability of Self-Control Into Adulthood

The stability hypothesis of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s general theory of crime has received limited support in the literature. However, recent research on the dimensions of self-control suggests varied developmental trends that may conflate the idea of stability. Using a sample of more than 300 individuals from the northeastern United States, this study examines the stability hypothesis across early adulthood and expands the current literature by considering the early childhood risk factors that may distinguish between longitudinal trajectories of self-control. Finally, a reduced, multidimensional version of the behavior problem index for measuring self-control is introduced. Results show evidence of relative stability in three dimensions of self-control, and that sex predicts trajectory group membership. Theoretical implications are discussed.

When in Rome: Testing the Moderating Influence of Neighborhood Composition on the Relationship Between Self-Control and Juvenile Offending

This study investigates the stability of self-control by examining whether neighborhood composition conditions the effect of self-control on offending. Congruent with social learning perspectives, I argue that neighborhood behavioral models provide a conduit for the expression of one’s self-control. Using data from the Project of Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN), I examine multi-level zero-inflated negative binomial models that include cross-level interactions between self-control and aggregate self-control. I found that for the frequency of delinquency, but not serious offending, the effect of low self-control is amplified in neighborhoods identified as having low aggregate self-control. These findings provide evidence that the effect of low self-control on offending is not always invariant across neighborhoods.

The stability of self-control across childhood

While the link between low self-control and several behavioral and social problems is widely supported, debate remains regarding the stability of and the genetic and environmental sources of variation in self-control. Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class 1998–1999 restricted data set, a sample of 360 twins was compared to a sample of 423 non-twins in order to examine the stability in self-control. The twin sample was also used to examine the genetic and environmental sources of stability in self-control. Findings indicated two stable classes for both the twin and singleton samples, and substantial stability in average self-control from kindergarten through fifth grade in both samples. The ACE decomposition model indicated strong genetic contributions to self-control (76%) with the remaining variation attributed to non-shared environment. Overall, the data suggest that self-control is identifiable early in life, stable across childhood, increasingly influenced by genes, and thus, is a critical focus for early intervention.

Stability of self-control and gender

PurposesThis study provides a rigorous test of gendered nature of self-control stability hypothesis by examining the existence and persistence of gender differences in self-control, and gender differences in developmental patterns of self-control and in source of self-control. MethodsFive-wave longitudinal data of Korean youths from age 10 to 14 are analyzed. t-tests are conducted to examine whether males have significantly lower self-control than females and whether the self-control differences across two genders persist. To test gender differences in developmental patterns of self-control, growth mixture modeling is utilized. Finally, hierarchical linear modeling is used to examine gender differences in the relationships between social factors and self-control. ResultsThe study shows that gender differences in self-control persist over the short term but not over the long term, that males and females experience similar developmental patterns of self-control, and that similarities appear in the relationships between social factors and self-control across both genders. ConclusionsThis study provides partial support for Gottfredson and Hirschi’s arguments on persistent gender differences in self-control and parenting’s main effect on self-control, while strong relative stability is found. The findings indicate that the stability postulate and the relationships between social factors and self-control are applicable to both genders.

Stability of Self-Control

In 2004, Hirschi redefined self-control by using the framework of his social control theory while retaining assumptions of his original self-control theory. A few studies have provided supportive evidence for the relationship between the newly defined self-control and deviant behavior, whereas no study has tested stability hypothesis by using this new self-control. This is the first study that examines whether the stability hypothesis is still valid in the revised self-control theory. A recent longitudinal national sample of South Korean youths has been used for this purpose. Correlation analysis revealed moderate relationships among self-control measures for 5 years. Self-control differences across genders and across offenders/nonoffenders were significant and consistent. Finally, the results of growth-mixture modeling indicated that 89.5% of the sample exhibited stable group differences in self-control. These findings provide support for the stability thesis in the new version of self-control theory. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Testing the Stability of Self-Control

Gottfredson and Hirschi suggest that individuals’ levels of self-control remain stable over the life course; however, the empirical status of this proposition remains equivocal. Most tests of the stability hypothesis have employed aggregate assessment methods (e.g., mean-level and correlational analyses) that overlook unique developmental patterns, although some have identified unique developmental patterns in self-control. The current study assesses the stability of self-control across 4 years using both traditional analytic methods and methods that account for the existence of unique developmental patterns (i.e., semiparametric group-based trajectory modeling) and exploring risk factors that differentiate these patterns. The results suggest six unique developmental patterns of self-control: two with high stable trajectories and four that evinced lower, less stable trajectories of self-control. The findings indicate that lower, less stable patterns of development are associated with more delinquent peer association, higher rates of parental criminality, fewer school bonds, and weaker maternal attachment.

Examining the Influence of Delinquent Peer Association on the Stability of Self-Control in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence: Toward an Integrated Theoretical Model

Gottfredson and Hirschi's (1990) general theory of crime and Akers' social learning theory (1998) have been given considerable attention in the criminological literature. Despite the empirical support for these theories, it is commonplace to test these theories as competing or conflicting theoretical frameworks. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) (N = 629), we examine two related research questions: (1) is self-control relatively stable in late childhood and early adolescence? and (2) does delinquent peer association influence the stability of self-control in late childhood and early adolescence? The results suggest that perhaps a more theoretically integrated approach (social learning and self-control synergistic theory, SSST) is plausible, rather than discussing these two theories as distinct and competing frameworks. Theoretical implications and study limitations are also discussed.

Parenting and Children's Self-Control: Concurrent and Longitudinal Relations

The purpose of the current study was to examine the impact parenting has on the development of self-control, both before and after the general theory of crime suggests self-control is established. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, longitudinal data from mothers with children ages 8–9 and 12–13 were analyzed via structural equation modeling. Results demonstrated an overall environment of effective parenting is associated with (1) self-control before and after it is theoretically established and (2) parenting constructs outside the conceptualization of the theory. Further, the stability of self-control may matter more than parenting in the longitudinal development of self-control.

The Stability of Self-Control: A Group-Based Approach

In A General Theory of Crime (1990), Gottfredson and Hirschi argue that self-control, fully developed in the early stage of life (around age 8 to 10), is a primary explanatory factor of deviance. Research consistently supports the relationship between self-control and deviance, while only limited studies have examined whether self-control is stable after age 10. Using a longitudinal national sample of South Korean youths from age 10 to 14, this study provides a rigorous test of three assumptions of the self-control stability thesis: first, if the development of self-control follows a homogenous process among individuals; second, if within-individual level of self-control stay unchanged over time (absolute stability); and third, if the age and self-control relationships parallel across individuals (relative stability). Both attitudinal and behavioral measures of self-control were used to investigate whether different measures yielded different results in the stability thesis. The results indicated that among individuals multiple developmental paths of self-control existed instead of a homogeneous path. The findings also showed different measures yielded divergent results in the stability thesis. While the analysis of the attitudinal measure revealed strong absolute stability for 50% of the sample, and strong relative stability for 99.7%, the analysis of the behavioral measure showed strong absolute and relative stabilities for 88.6% of the sample.

The Stability of Self-Control Among South Korean Adolescents

Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime has been widely tested. Yet one of their key hypotheses-the stability of self-control-has received little attention from researchers, and no known study has examined the applicability of the stability hypothesis in a non-Western context. Given Gottfredson and Hirschi's claim that their low self-control theory transcends cultural and national boundaries, we tested the hypothesis with a nationally representative sample of South Korean adolescents using 5-year panel data. Consistent with studies conducted in the United States, our results offer partial support for Gottfredson and Hirschi's stability hypothesis. We also provide comparative interpretations of our findings in the South Korean context.