In 2011 Moffit et al published
an academic paper claiming that childhood self-control was a factor in
predicting adult physical health, substance dependence, personal finances and criminal
offending outcomes.
Moffit et al’s study
involved 1000 participants over a 32 year period (from the Dunedin
Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study 1972 - 2004), meaning that
participants were involved from the age of 0 years to the age of 32 years.
Participants in the study were a representative
socioeconomic make-up of the area from which they were selected (New Zealand’s
South Island) and they were primarily white. This means that the impact that a
person’s non-white ethnicity, and how this part of their identity affects their
lives and opportunity to develop self-control cannot be inferred from this
particular study
Social class, which affects how well people are able to
achieve good health, wealth and keep themselves away from criminal behaviour
was accounted for during the study. Even taking this into account, childhood
self-control was the factor which dramatically influenced outcomes, more so
than IQ and social class.
Many participants, by the age of 10 years were starting to
master self-control and apply it to every day actions. Some however, were not.
Over the 32 year study period, it became apparent that those adults who, as
children had not mastered self-control were more likely to be involved in
criminal behaviour, more likely to have poor physical health, more likely to
suffer from substance dependency and more likely to have poor personal
finances.
Practically, this means that children who displayed
self-control grew into adults who were able to delay gratification, control
impulses and modulate emotional expression well.
They were less likely to seek immediate gratification
through alcohol, smoking, substance abuse and fatty, unhealthy foods.
Self-control also leads to longer lasting and more constructive relationships
through the ability to modulate emotional expression well and to control
impulses.
In short, Moffit et al
found that self-control is a vital component of a healthy and happy life. At
ReachOut we have always focused on self-control as one of our key character
values (alongside fairness, good judgement and staying power). Young people
involved in our mentoring projects take part in a range of activities to help
them to develop and improve skills to practice self-control throughout their
day to day lives.
Our mentoring projects have always been about equipping
young people with both the academic and character skills they will need to
succeed and be happy in the future. It is always a pleasure to find articles
and studies that support what we do as an organisation.
Frances Pearson
Manchester
