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| A WVU study finds when parents model discipline in work, health and finances, their teens tend to follow suit. Photo Credit: Jennifer Shephard/WVU |
When it comes to self-control, adolescents tend to follow the patterns their parents establish, according to West Virginia University psychology research.
Professor Amy Gentzler of the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences led a six-month survey of 213 Appalachian adolescents and their parents, learning about their self-control in areas like health, work and school, money management, leisure activities and relationships.
She found that teens’ academic determination and the choices they made about wellness and money almost always reflected their mothers’, fathers’ or both parents’ self-control in similar areas.
The ability to resist immediate temptation in favor of long-term goals, self-control affects people’s academic achievement, physical health, financial stability and even the quality of their relationships, according to Gentzler.
“Many of us struggle with self-control within a particular aspect of our lives,” she said. “Often, if you look at our parents, they experienced self-control challenges, too, though theirs might show up in other ways.”
The survey showed mothers who are self-disciplined at work tend to have academically disciplined teens, while fathers with strong overall self-control tend to have teens who are good with money.
Gentzler discovered the clearest connection between parents’ self-control and that of their children in their health behaviors. Mothers and fathers who had the self-control to eat healthy foods, exercise and get enough sleep had teenagers who were similarly disciplined, she said.
The research also revealed a link between mothers’ work habits and their teens’ performance in school.
“It may be that mothers who have higher levels of self-control at work are also helping their children more with school tasks and homework,” Gentzler said. “They’re taking that same mentality and approach to their work and helping to instill that in their teen.”
The survey was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many parents worked from home and teens attended school remotely.
Unexpectedly, fathers who reported high self-control over their health had teens with lower self-control overall. Gentzler speculated this could reflect teens’ frustration when fathers are controlling.
“If fathers are trying to control their eating and exercise to a high degree, teens might push back,” Gentzler said. “But overall, fathers who have higher health self-control are a good thing.”
That proved to be true for financial behaviors. Dads with strong overall self-control raised teens who handled money responsibly.
The study also found a family’s income predicted teen self-control in many areas. Teens from higher-income families had better self-control in general, and in terms of their health, school, money and relationships specifically.
“There’s a pattern — having more resources allows people to make healthier choices. They might be at more rigorous schools, environments where they’re getting lessons on how to exert self-control,” Gentzler said. “When you have a higher socioeconomic status, there are structures in place to help you meet goals.”
Early adversity, on the other hand, including financial struggles or other environmental disruptions, can disrupt children on a neurological level, putting them at a disadvantage as they grow and develop self-control, she said.
Gentzler emphasized that while family dynamics, socioeconomics and even genetics all play a role in self-control, adolescence is ultimately about growth and change. She said her research offers reassurance to parents worried they’ve missed their window of influence.
“There are definitely ways that you can help your self-control,” Gentzler said. “Small, intentional strategies, such as setting attainable, realistic goals or pairing unpleasant tasks with rewards can help teens and parents stay consistent long-term.”
Funding: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health.
Published in journal: Social Development
Title: Associations Between Parent and Adolescent General and Domain-Specific Self Control
Authors: Amy L. Gentzler, Matty Johnston, Avneet Batra, and Christa L. Lilly
Source/Credit: West Virginia University
Reference Number: bs111025_01
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