A gradient of childhood self-control predicts health, wealth, and public safety

Moffitt, Terrie E.; Arseneault, Louise; Belsky, Daniel W.; Dickson, Nigel; Hancox, Robert J.; Harrington, HonaLee; Houts, Renate; Poulton, Richie; Roberts, Brent W.; Ross, Stephen L.; Sears, Malcolm R.; Thomson, W. Murray; Caspi, Avshalom

doi:10.1073/pnas.1010076108

Cited by 3,897 publications

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“…Importantly, executive function (particularly response inhibition) was significantly predictive of engagement with healthier behaviours amongst those students living in environments unsupportive of healthier behaviours (Booker & Mullan, 2013). Growing evidence also shows that executive function in childhood and adulthood is associated with socio‐economic status at birth (Moffitt et al ., 2011; Raver, Blair, & Willoughby, 2013). In our sample, the relationship between health behaviour and self‐efficacy (the ability to control behaviour and a correlate of executive function) was moderated by SES.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the intention–behaviour gap greater amongst the more deprived? A meta‐analysis of five studies on physical activity, diet, and medication adherence in smoking cessation

Vasiljevic

Griffin

et al. 2015

British J Health Psychol

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ObjectivesUnhealthy behaviour is more common amongst the deprived, thereby contributing to health inequalities. The evidence that the gap between intention and behaviour is greater amongst the more deprived is limited and inconsistent. We tested this hypothesis using objective and self‐report measures of three behaviours, both individual‐ and area‐level indices of socio‐economic status, and pooling data from five studies.DesignSecondary data analysis.MethodsMultiple linear regressions and meta‐analyses of data on physical activity, diet, and medication adherence in smoking cessation from 2,511 participants.ResultsAcross five studies, we found no evidence for an interaction between deprivation and intention in predicting objective or self‐report measures of behaviour. Using objectively measured behaviour and area‐level deprivation, meta‐analyses suggested that the gap between self‐efficacy and behaviour was greater amongst the more deprived (B = .17 [95% CI = 0.02, 0.31]).ConclusionsWe find no compelling evidence to support the hypothesis that the intention–behaviour gap is greater amongst the more deprived. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Unhealthy behaviour is more common in those who are more deprived.This may reflect a larger gap between intentions and behaviour amongst the more deprived.The limited evidence to date testing this hypothesis is mixed. What does this study add? In the most robust study to date, combining results from five trials, we found no evidence for this explanation.The gap between intentions and behaviour did not vary with deprivation for the following: diet, physical activity, or medication adherence in smoking cessation.We did, however, find a larger gap between perceived control over behaviour (self‐efficacy) and behaviour in those more deprived.These findings add to existing evidence to suggest that higher rates of unhealthier behaviour in more deprived groups may be reduced by the following: Strengthening behavioural control mechanisms (such as executive function and non‐conscious processes) or Behaviour change interventions that bypass behavioural control mechanisms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the intention–behaviour gap greater amongst the more deprived? A meta‐analysis of five studies on physical activity, diet, and medication adherence in smoking cessation

Vasiljevic

Griffin

et al. 2015

British J Health Psychol

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“…identified as an important target for early intervention (Diamond and Lee 2011) due to their 56 positive associations with children's academic achievement (Monette et al 2011;St Clair-57 Thompson and Gathercole 2006; Best et al 2011), as well as their ability to predict future 58 health, socio-economic status, and income (Moffitt et al 2011). Therefore, research 59 demonstrating the benefit of aerobic fitness for cognitive development suggests that higher 60 aerobic fitness may prime children and adolescents' chances for life success in a variety of 61 domains.…”

Section: Luna and Sweeney 2004; Miller And Cohen 2001) Cognitive Conmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity to cognitive processing in adolescents: findings from the ALSPAC birth cohort

Pindus

Davis

Hillman

et al. 2014

Psychological Research

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“…Inhibitory control predicts the development of the executive attention network [11] and is related to children's executive functions (EFs), high-level cognitive abilities that allow humans to show adaptive, goal-directed behavior in complex situations [12]. In an ever-changing and unpredictable environment, EFs, and self-control in particular, are not only vital to master real-life situations but also predict long-term academic achievement [13][14][15].…”

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confidence: 99%

Preterm Toddlers' Inhibitory Control Abilities Predict Attention Regulation and Academic Achievement at Age 8 Years

Jaekel

Eryigit-Madzwamuse

Wolke

2016

The Journal of Pediatrics

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Original citation: Jaekel, Julia, Eryigit-Madzwamuse, Suna and Wolke, Dieter. (2015) Preterm toddlers' inhibitory control abilities predict attention regulation and academic achievement at age 8 years. The Journal of Pediatrics .doi: 10.1016Pediatrics .doi: 10. /j.jpeds.2015 Permanent WRAP url: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/74456 Copyright and reuse:The Warwick Research Archive Portal (WRAP) makes this work by researchers of the University of Warwick available open access under the following conditions. Copyright © and all moral rights to the version of the paper presented here belong to the individual author(s) and/or other copyright owners. To the extent reasonable and practicable the material made available in WRAP has been checked for eligibility before being made available.Copies of full items can be used for personal research or study, educational, or not-forprofit purposes without prior permission or charge. Provided that the authors, title and full bibliographic details are credited, a hyperlink and/or URL is given for the original metadata page and the content is not changed in any way. Study design. 558 children born at 26-41 weeks gestation were studied as part of a prospective geographically defined longitudinal investigation in Germany. Toddlers' inhibitory control abilities were observed at age 20 months. At 8 years, attention and academic abilities were assessed.Results. The lower children's gestational age, the lower their inhibitory control and the more likely they had poor attention regulation and low academic achievement. Adverse effects of preterm birth on attention and academic outcomes were partially mediated by toddlers' inhibitory control abilities.Conclusion. These findings of early inhibitory control abilities provide new information about the mechanisms linking preterm birth with long-term attention difficulties and academic underachievement.

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A gradient of childhood self-control predicts health, wealth, and public safety

Cited by 3,897 publications

References 31 publications

Is the intention–behaviour gap greater amongst the more deprived? A meta‐analysis of five studies on physical activity, diet, and medication adherence in smoking cessation

Is the intention–behaviour gap greater amongst the more deprived? A meta‐analysis of five studies on physical activity, diet, and medication adherence in smoking cessation

The relationship of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity to cognitive processing in adolescents: findings from the ALSPAC birth cohort

Preterm Toddlers' Inhibitory Control Abilities Predict Attention Regulation and Academic Achievement at Age 8 Years

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