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Sex differences in the causes of self-control: An examination of mediation, moderation, and gendered etiologies

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  • Chapple, Constance L.
  • Vaske, Jamie
  • Hope, Trina L.

Abstract

Sex is one of the most robust predictors of self-control, with a consistent finding that girls score higher on a variety of measures of self-control. In this research, we investigate three possible reasons for why this is true: first, we examine whether current predictors of self-control mediate the effect of sex on self-control, second, we examine whether sex moderates the effect of current predictors on self-control and third, we examine the possibility that the causes of self-control are gendered, necessitating different causal models for boys and girls. Using data from the Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth79, we assess three, related questions: Is the sex effect on self-control mediated by current predictors of self-control? Does sex moderate the effects of current predictors of self-control? Does the causal model predicting self-control differ for boys and girls? We find that the sex effect on self-control is robust; does not moderate the etiology of self-control; and although partially mediated by etiological variables, remains a significant predictor of self-control. We also find that current predictors do a poor job of explaining girls' acquisition of self-control, suggesting a gendered etiology of self-control.

Suggested Citation

  • Chapple, Constance L. & Vaske, Jamie & Hope, Trina L., 2010. "Sex differences in the causes of self-control: An examination of mediation, moderation, and gendered etiologies," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 1122-1131, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:38:y::i:6:p:1122-1131
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Turner, Michael G. & Piquero, Alex R. & Pratt, Travis C., 2005. "The school context as a source of self-control," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 327-339.
    2. Turner, Michael G. & Piquero, Alex R., 2002. "The stability of self-control," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 30(6), pages 457-471.
    3. Beaver, Kevin M. & Wright, John Paul & DeLisi, Matt & Vaughn, Michael G., 2008. "Genetic influences on the stability of low self-control: Results from a longitudinal sample of twins," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 478-485, November.
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    1. Jo, Youngoh & Bouffard, Leana, 2014. "Stability of self-control and gender," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 356-365.
    2. Chapple, Constance L. & Pierce, Hayley & Jones, Melissa S., 2021. "Gender, adverse childhood experiences, and the development of self-control," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Kyung Eun Jahng, 2019. "Exploring Pathways to Middle School Students’ Life Satisfaction," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 12(5), pages 1643-1662, October.
    4. Tehrani, Hossein Dabiriyan & Yamini, Sara, 2020. "Parenting practices, self-control and anti-social behaviors: Meta-analytic structural equation modeling," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    5. Vazsonyi, Alexander T. & Ksinan Jiskrova, Gabriela, 2018. "On the development of self-control and deviance from preschool to middle adolescence," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 60-69.
    6. Hod Orkibi & Tammie Ronen, 2019. "A Dual-Pathway Model Linking Self-Control Skills to Aggression in Adolescents: Happiness and Time Perspective as Mediators," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 729-742, March.
    7. Evelyn N. Nwagu & Jude C. Enebechi & Amelia N. Odo, 2018. "Self-Control in Learning for Healthy Living Among Students in a Nigerian College of Education," SAGE Open, , vol. 8(3), pages 21582440187, August.
    8. Schilling, Catrina M. & Walsh, Anthony & Yun, Ilhong, 2011. "ADHD and criminality: A primer on the genetic, neurobiological, evolutionary, and treatment literature for criminologists," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 3-11.
    9. Fernanda Inéz García-Vázquez & Angel Alberto Valdés-Cuervo & Alma Georgina Navarro-Villarreal & Lizeth Guadalupe Parra-Pérez & Maria Fernanda Durón-Ramos & Daniela Fimbres-Celaya, 2021. "Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Temperance Scale in Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Tina Strombach & Zsofia Margittai & Barbara Gorczyca & Tobias Kalenscher, 2016. "Gender-Specific Effects of Cognitive Load on Social Discounting," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(10), pages 1-15, October.

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