I’ve been writing a lot about strategies to help students develop more self-control.

Here’s yet another study that demonstrates the positive pay-off for students.

High Self-Control Predicts Good Adjustment, Less Pathology, Better Grades, and Interpersonal Success is the title of the study written by June P. Tangney , Roy F. Baumeister, Angie Luzio Boone. It’s very lengthy, and you have to pay for it. I’ve purchased and reviewed it, and will be adapting small sections for students and, when I do, will post what I’m using here.

But here’s their abstract:

What good is self-control? We incorporated a new measure of individual differences in self-control into two large investigations of a broad spectrum of behaviors. The new scale showed good internal consistency and retest reliability. Higher scores on self-control correlated with a higher grade point average, better adjustment (fewer reports of psychopathology, higher self-esteem), less binge eating and alcohol abuse, better relationships and interpersonal skills, secure attachment, and more optimal emotional responses. Tests for curvilinearity failed to indicate any drawbacks of so-called overcontrol, and the positive effects remained after controlling for social desirability. Low self-control is thus a significant risk factor for a broad range of personal and interpersonal problems.