Abstract
The current investigation tested changes in low self-control and the developmental links between parenting and the developmental course of self-control. It was hypothesized that (1) low self-control would change over time (within individual changes); (2) parenting would negatively predict both the intercept and slope of low self-control during childhood; (3) parenting would negatively predict only the intercept during early and late adolescence. Self-report data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) were used, from the (1) first-grade elementary school panel (childhood; N = 2342), (2) the fourth-grade elementary school panel (early adolescence; N = 2378), and the (3) first-grade junior high school panel (late adolescence; N = 2351). Second-order latent growth curve models provided support that low self-control decreased over time. Findings also partially supported hypothesis 2, as parenting negatively predicted the intercept of low self-control, not the slope. Finally, they supported hypothesis 3, as a significant negative parenting effect predicted the low self-control intercept during both early and late adolescence. The current study contributes to research on the link between positive parenting and low self-control development, tested across three distinct developmental periods or age groups and by studying these questions among Korean youth.
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Data availability
For more information about the panel data, please contact the National Youth Policy Institute (NYPI): http://archive.nypi.re.kr/
Notes
In the 1st grade students data, questions for low self-control were asked respondents at Waves 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7, but items only at Waves 2, 3, and 4 (between ages 9 and 11) were used for the childhood. In the 4th grade students data, items were assessed at Waves 3, 5, 6, and 7, but we used items only at Waves 3, 4, and 6 (between ages 13 and 16) for early adolescence. In the 7th grade students data, items were collected at Waves 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7, but items were used only at Waves 3, 4, and 6 (between ages 16 and 19) for late adolescence.
In the data set used for this study, there were two categories of parenting with four items per each category: (1) the opposite of neglect (i.e., positive parenting) and (2) abuse (i.e., negative parenting). We chose the four items, reflecting positive parenting instead of those to measure “abuse.”
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AV: conceptualization, methodology, writing, interpretation, visualization. SC: data analysis, interpretation, visualization, reviewing, and editing.
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The authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
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The Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) followed standard ethical procedures in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments which included active parental consent for child participation.
Appendix
Appendix
Mplus Syntax to Test Strong Measurement Invariance for a Second/Higher-Order Growth Curve Model.
USEVARIABLES are.
LSC1w2 LSC2w2 LSC3w2 LSC4w2 LSC5w2.
LSC1w3 LSC2w3 LSC3w3 LSC4w3 LSC5w3.
LSC1w4 LSC2w4 LSC3w4 LSC4w4 LSC5w4;
Categorical are.
LSC1w2 LSC2w2 LSC3w2 LSC4w2 LSC5w2.
LSC1w3 LSC2w3 LSC3w3 LSC4w3 LSC5w3.
LSC1w4 LSC2w4 LSC3w4 LSC4w4 LSC5w4;
Analysis:
PARAMETERIAZATION = THETA;
Model:
LSCw2 by LSC1w2 LSC2w2 LSC3w2 LSC4w2 LSC5w2 (1–4);
LSCw3 by LSC1w3 LSC2w3 LSC3w3 LSC4w3 LSC5w3 (1–4);
LSCw4 by LSC1w4 LSC2w4 LSC3w4 LSC4w4 LSC5w4 (1–4);
LSC1w2$1 LSC1w3$1 LSC1w4$1 (5);
LSC2w2$1 LSC2w3$1 LSC2w4$1 (6);
LSC3w2$1 LSC3w3$1 LSC3w4$1 (7);
LSC4w2$1 LSC4w3$1 LSC4w4$1 (8);
LSC5w2$1 LSC5w3$1 LSC5w4$1 (9);
S1| LSCW2@0 LSCW3@1 LSCW4@2;
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Vazsonyi, A.T., Cho, S. The Importance of Parenting in the Development of Self-control During Childhood, Early Adolescence, and Late Adolescence. Int Criminol 2, 111–127 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43576-022-00055-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43576-022-00055-0