Self-control and Health Outcomes in a Nationally Representative Sample

OBJECTIVES: To explore the link between low self-control during adolescence and health problems in early adulthood. METHODS: Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we examined the relationship between varying levels of self-control and the likelihood of being diagnosed with a variety of physical and brain-based health conditions. RESULTS: Results from logistic regression analyses indicated that subjects with lower levels of self-control had significantly higher odds of being diagnosed with 9 of the 10 health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting the development of self-control in childhood and adolescence may be valuable in preventing future health problems.