Out of control: the association between family conflict and low self-control in adolescence

Low self-control in adolescence is predictive of psychological and physiological problems across the lifespan (T.E. Moffitt, 2011, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 108(7), 2693-2698). The aim of the present... [ view full abstract ]

Low self-control in adolescence is predictive of psychological and physiological problems across the lifespan (T.E. Moffitt, 2011, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 108(7), 2693-2698). The aim of the present research was to investigate the relation between family conflict and low self-control in adolescence with a genetically sensitive design (> 9000 Dutch twins, aged 14). Applying the direction of causation model (D.L. Duffy & N. G., Martin, 1994, Genetic Epidemiology. 11(6), 483–502), we compared models examining several possible explanations for their association including reciprocal causation, unidirectional causation from family conflict to low self-control, unidirectional causation from low self-control to family conflict, and common genetic susceptibility. Considering the robust phenotypic correlation between family conflict and low self-control , the higher heritability of self-control (50% - 60%, Willems, 2018, Behavior Genetics, 48(2), 135-146) as compared to family conflict (30% - 40%, van der Aa et al., 2010, Twin Research and Human Genetics, 13(2), 143-162.), and the application of measurement models, we are confident for the model to work well. Comparing competing models through AIC weights (E.J. Wagenmakers & S. Farrell, 2004, Psychonomic bulletin & review. 11(1), 192-196), our results suggest that an unidirectional causal pathway model where family conflict leads to low self-control in adolescence, with genetic factors also playing a role in explaining the association, fits the data best. This finding implies that adolescents experiencing family conflict are at risk to show hampered self-control capacities, with family conflict being a robust predictor of low self-control through common genetic factors but also through direct causal influences.