Genetic and Environmental Influences on Self-Control: Assessing Self-Control with the ASEBA Self-Control Scale

Behav Genet. 2018 Mar;48(2):135-146. doi: 10.1007/s10519-018-9887-1. Epub 2018 Feb 5.

Abstract

This study used a theoretically-derived set of items of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment to develop the Achenbach Self-Control Scale (ASCS) for 7-16 year olds. Using a large dataset of over 20,000 children, who are enrolled in the Netherlands Twin Register, we demonstrated the psychometric properties of the ASCS for parent-, self- and teacher-report by examining internal and criterion validity, and inter-rater and test-retest reliability. We found associations between the ASCS and measures of well-being, educational achievement, and substance use. Next, we applied the classical twin design to estimate the genetic and environmental contributions to self-control. Genetic influences accounted for 64-75% of the variance in self-control based on parent- and teacher-report (age 7-12), and for 47-49% of the variance in self-control based on self-report (age 12-16), with the remaining variance accounted by non-shared environmental influences. In conclusion, we developed a validated and accessible self-control scale, and show that genetic influences explain a majority of the individual differences in self-control across youth aged 7-16 years.

Keywords: ASEBA; Heritability; Parent-report; Self-control; Self-report; Teacher-report.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Female
  • Gene-Environment Interaction
  • Humans
  • Individuality
  • Male
  • Netherlands
  • Parents
  • Personality Inventory
  • Psychometrics / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Report
  • Self-Control / psychology*
  • Twins / genetics
  • Twins / psychology*
  • Twins, Dizygotic / genetics
  • Twins, Monozygotic / genetics