Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026
09:37
Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice
Published on: August 13, 2020
12.1K
The codevelopment of effortful control and school behavioral problems
Olivia E Atherton1, Lucy R Zheng1, Wiebke Bleidorn1
1Department of Psychology.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|July 24, 2018
Summary
Youth with declining effortful control show increasing school behavior problems, and vice versa. This bidirectional relationship highlights the importance of self-regulation for academic success.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Behavior
- Self-Regulation
Background:
- Effortful control, the ability to manage impulses and attention, is crucial for school success.
- Limited longitudinal research exists on the interplay between effortful control and school behavioral problems in youth.
- The reciprocal relationship between declining self-regulation and increasing behavioral issues needs further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the codevelopment of effortful control and school behavioral problems in Mexican-origin youth.
- To investigate the bidirectional pathways between effortful control and school behavioral issues over time.
- To explore potential moderating factors in this developmental relationship.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with multimethod data from 674 Mexican-origin adolescents (5th-11th grade).
- Bivariate latent growth curve modeling to assess developmental trajectories.
- Cross-lagged regression analyses to examine bidirectional associations.
Main Results:
- A significant negative association was found: decreases in effortful control predicted increases in school behavioral problems.
- The relationship was bidirectional: low effortful control led to more behavioral problems, and behavioral problems led to less effortful control.
- Gender, nativity, cultural values, and school context did not moderate these pathways.
Conclusions:
- Effortful control and school behavioral problems exhibit a reciprocal developmental pattern during adolescence.
- Interventions targeting self-regulation may help mitigate school behavioral problems.
- Understanding this codevelopment offers insights into personality development and adolescent adjustment.
Related Concept Videos
01:43Sustainable Development
15.2K
As the human population continues to grow and use resources, we must be mindful of our planet’s natural limits. Sustainable development provides a pathway to maintain and improve human life now while also ensuring that future generations will have the resources that they need. The long-term success of sustainability efforts rests on understanding the interplay between human actions and ecological systems.
15.2K
00:54What is Behavior?
10.3K
Behaviors are actions that an organism engages in—they can be related to finding food, reproducing, defending against threats, and many other possible actions. Behaviors include activities related to the environment around the animal—such as migration—as well as social interactions within a species or population. Many behaviors involve motor output—that is, muscle movements—while others involve less visible actions, such as learning.
10.3K
01:28Behaviorism
4.9K
The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
4.9K
01:21Control System Problem
440
In an open-loop system, such as a basic thermostat, the poles of the transfer function influence the system's response but do not determine its stability. However, when feedback is introduced to form a closed-loop system, such as an advanced thermostat that adjusts heating based on room temperature, stability is governed by the new poles of the closed-loop transfer function.
When forming a closed-loop system, issues can arise if the poles cross into the unstable region, leading to potential...
When forming a closed-loop system, issues can arise if the poles cross into the unstable region, leading to potential...
440
02:33Combinatorial Gene Control
9.7K
Combinatorial gene control is the synergistic action of several transcriptional factors to regulate the expression of a single gene. The absence of one or more of these factors may lead to a significant difference in the level of gene expression or repression.
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...
9.7K
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
475
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
475