Uncovering the link between self-control, age, and psychological maladjustment among Spanish adolescents and young adults

ABSTRACT This study explores the relationships of self-control with age and psychological maladjustment in adolescents and young adults. The sample consisted of 1,600 randomly selected Spanish adolescents and young adults, aged 12-34 years (M = 22.28, SD = 6.94). Measures of self-control, Internet addiction, and anxiety-depressive symptoms were administered. Control variables included age and sex. Results indicated that adolescents between 15 and 19 years old showed the lowest self-control scores, while older participants showed greater scores. Low scores in self-control were significantly associated with greater substance consumption, more anxiety-depression symptoms, and higher scores on the Internet addiction scale. Also, participants with high scores on the addiction scale scored lower on self-control. These results evidence associations between self-control and some emotional-behavioral problems, and suggest the importance of promoting self-control to prevent Internet addiction, substance consumption, and anxiety-depression in adolescents and young adults.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Oliva,Alfredo, Antolín-Suárez,Lucía, Rodríguez-Meirinhos,Ana
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Colegio Oficial de la Psicología de Madrid 2019
Online Access:	http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1132-05592019000100006
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