Individual differences in self-control markedly depended on genetic influence, which increased substantially in young adulthood

Genetics, Parenting, and Family Functioning – What Drives the Development of Self-Control from Adolescence to Adulthood? Ida M. Mueller,Frank M. Spinath,Malte Friese,Elisabeth Hahn. Journal of Personality, May 6 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12723

Abstract

Objective: Self-control is a meaningful predictor of crucial life outcomes. Knowingly, genes contribute substantially to differences in self-control, but behavioral genetic findings are often misinterpreted regarding environmental influences. Therefore, we reinvestigate the heritability of self-control as well as potential environmental influences, namely parenting and a chaotic home environment.

Method: We used cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the German twin family study TwinLife (N = 3,354 individuals), structured in a multicohort design in which 13-, 19-, and 25-year-old twins rated their self-control, parents’ behavior, and home environment.

Results: Results showed increasing mean levels and 1-year stabilities for self-control accompanied by substantial genetic influences, increasing particularly from ages 19 to 25 (53% to 76%). While chaotic home environments and negative parenting were phenotypically associated with lower self-control, twin difference models revealed that differences in these individually perceived “environments” directly predicted self-control differences (β = -.16 to -.28) within families when controlling for genetic and environmental similarities.

Conclusions: In addition to the genetic anchoring of self-control, results indicate that environmental factors such as negative family environments are meaningful and depend on individual perceptions within families. Interventions for enhancing self-control should therefore rely on individual perspectives rather than objective characteristics of home environments.