Self-control over time: Implications for work, relationship, and well-being outcomes

Extensive research has demonstrated that self-control predicts a range of outcomes, but little work has examined the implications of self-control over time. This study examined self-control levels and slopes across adolescence and young adulthood as predictors in the work, relationship, and well-being domains. Drawing from developmental tasks theory, two possibilities were explored: high levels of self-control or increasing levels of self-control across this developmental period may be important to these outcomes. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were used, with self-control measured across four waves and outcomes measured during the last wave. Results were more consistent with the proposition that high levels of self-control across this developmental period may be important to the outcomes examined.