The genetic architecture of effortful control and its interplay with psychological adjustment in adolescence

Corrado Fagnani, Emanuela Medda, Guido Alessandri, Davide Delfino, Cristina D'Ippolito, Nancy Eisenberg, Maria Antonietta Stazi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The role of genes and environment in the relation between self-regulation and adjustment is unclear. We investigated, with the twin design, genetic and environmental components of the association between effortful control (EC) and indicators of psychological adjustment using adolescents’ and parents’ reports for 774 twins. Genetic factors explained a substantial proportion of variance in EC (58%) and the outcome variables of optimism (55%), general self-esteem (45%), happiness (48%), and self-derogation (29%). Perceived competence had no significant genetic component. Aside from perceived competence, uncorrelated with EC, phenotypic correlations of EC with measures of well-being/adjustment were moderate and predominantly explained by shared genetic effects. Results suggest a significant genetic contribution in adolescents’ EC and in its relation to various aspects of adjustment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5-14
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Research in Personality
Volume68
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2017

Keywords

  • Effortful control
  • Genetic modeling
  • Self-control
  • Self-regulation
  • Twins

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • General Psychology

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