Unique and interactive effects of neuroticism and effortful control on psychopathological symptoms in non-clinical adolescents

The present study examined effects of neuroticism and effortful control on a broad range of psychopathological symptoms in youths. Non-clinical adolescents aged 12–15 years (N = 173) completed self-report questionnaires for measuring neuroticism, effortful control, and psychopathological symptoms. Results showed that the links between neuroticism and effortful control, on the one hand, and psychopathological symptoms, on the other hand, were as expected. That is, correlations between neuroticism and symptoms were positive, whereas those between effortful control and symptoms were negative. Furthermore, neuroticism and effortful control both explained unique and significant proportions of the variance in psychopathological symptoms. Finally, an interactive effect of neuroticism and effortful control on psychopathological symptoms was found. In particular the combination of high levels of neuroticism and low levels of effortful control was associated with high levels of psychopathological symptoms.