Spanish validation of the Delaying Gratification Inventory in adolescents

Individual differences in the capacity to delay gratification explain considerable variability in adult life outcomes related to health, psychological well-being, and social relationships. Although individual differences in delay of gratification begin to emerge in adolescence, few studies have tried to evaluate this construct in adolescents, especially in Spanish. The goal of this study was to validate the Delaying Gratification Inventory and to analyse its psychometric properties in Spanish adolescents.

Using a sample of 695 adolescents (M = 15.18, SD = 1.22) between 13 and 18 years old, the factor structure, internal consistency and reliability were tested.

The analyses showed an adequate fit to the original model (χ ² (550) = 1671.59, CFI = .92, TLI = .92, RMSEA = .063, 95% CI [.063, .071]), and appropriate internal consistency (α = .80). The ability to delay gratification was directly and moderately associated with self-control and self-consciousness, and inversely and moderately related with depression and psychological difficulties.

This study provides new data on a tool for assessing the ability to delay reward in Spanish adolescents, a key regulatory ability to prevent unhealthy high-risk behaviours that are associated with serious health, psychological, and social problems.