TY - JOUR
T1 - Genetic and Environmental Influences on Self-Control
T2 - Assessing Self-Control with the ASEBA Self-Control Scale
AU - Willems, Yayouk E.
AU - Dolan, Conor V.
AU - van Beijsterveldt, Catharina E.M.
AU - de Zeeuw, Eveline L.
AU - Boomsma, Dorret I.
AU - Bartels, Meike
AU - Finkenauer, Catrin
PY - 2018/3
Y1 - 2018/3
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - ASEBA
KW - Heritability
KW - Parent-report
KW - Self-control
KW - Self-report
KW - Teacher-report
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042797520&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85042797520&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10519-018-9887-1
DO - 10.1007/s10519-018-9887-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 29404830
SN - 0001-8244
VL - 48
SP - 135
EP - 146
JO - Behavior Genetics
JF - Behavior Genetics
IS - 2
ER -