Study and leisure interference as mediators between students' self-control capacities and their domain-specific functioning and general well-being

•Study and leisure interference are investigated as separate self-control problems.•Self-control relates to academic functioning mostly via study interference.•Only leisure interference mediates self-control effects on leisure functioning.•Leisure interference was the more consistent mediator for general well-being.•Mutual connection between students' academic and leisure strivings is discussed.

Study interference (i.e., studying is interfered by enjoyable alternatives) and leisure interference (i.e., leisure time is interfered by duties) are investigated as separate mediators between students' self-control capacities and their overall functioning (N = 253). Based on the assumption that both conflict experiences are associated with domain-specific outcomes, we calculated multiple mediator models with several indicators of students' domain-specific functioning as criteria, self-control as predictor, and students' tendency to experience motivational interference during studying (TMIS) and during leisure time (TMIL) as parallel mediators. As predicted, TMIS was the strongest mediator for measures of academic functioning, whereas TMIL was the strongest mediator for leisure functioning. With regard to general well-being, TMIL was the more consistent mediator. Findings are in line with the assumption that students' self-regulation difficulties are not only important for academic contexts but also for leisure contexts, especially when concepts of successful development include students' strivings in various life domains.