Reexamining the linear and U‐shaped relationships between self‐control and emotional and behavioural problems. Issue 2 (7th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Situ, Qiao‐Min; Li, Jian‐Bin; Dou, Kai
• Is Part Of: Asian journal of social psychology. Volume 19:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 177
• Page End: 185
• Publication Date: 2015-10-07
• Subjects: Chinese -- over‐control -- problem behaviours -- self‐control -- under‐control; Social psychology -- Periodicals; Social psychology -- Asia -- Periodicals; 302.095
• DOI: 10.1111/ajsp.12118
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-2223

Abstract

Abstract : Previous studies have demonstrated a linear relationship between self‐control and emotional and behavioural problems. However, some scholars have assumed that both under‐control and over‐control may result in undesired problems, which implies a U‐shaped relationship between them. This issue was reexamined in three Chinese samples in the present study. Self‐report measures that conceptually assessed self‐control and emotional (i.e. depression and negative emotion) and behavioural (i.e. rule‐breaking behaviour, aggression and counterproductive work behaviour) problems were administered to adolescents ( N = 885), university students ( N = 671) and employees ( N = 500). Results of piecewise linear regression show that there were significant quadratic effects of self‐control on emotional and behavioural problems in adolescents and on behavioural problems in employees, but no significant U‐shaped associations between them were found. Implications for future studies are discussed.