It’s the thought that counts

Trait self-control is positively associated with well-being and coping via thought control ability

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21622858
AutoresKarlijn Massar (0000-0003-4388-3846, Maastricht University, autor de correspondencia), Pavla Bělostíková (Maastricht University), Xincheng Sui (0000-0002-6555-2215, Maastricht University)
Año2022
Volumen41
Número4
Páginas2372-2381
Fecha de publicación2022-04-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaCurrent Psychology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1046-1310 • E-ISSN: 1936-4733
EditorialSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s12144-020-00746-9
OpenAlexW3022954515
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas51

In the present study, we reason that the ability to keep unwanted thoughts and intrusions at bay – thought control ability – might explain part of the relationship between trait self-control and positive psychological outcomes. We predict that the ability to keep unwanted thoughts at bay causes people high in trait self-control to report higher subjective well-being (Study 1), and makes them to be more likely to cope with stressful life events in an adaptive rather than maladaptive manner (Study 2). Two cross-sectional studies among healthy individuals were conducted (Study 1 n = 284; 70% female; M age = 22.15 years; Study 2 n = 210, 65.7% female, M age = 28.07) in which trait self-control, thought control ability, subjective well-being (study 1), and coping styles (study 2) were measured. Additionally, we investigated the mediating role of thought control ability and the conditional effect of gender on this mediation. The results of Study 1 indicate that trait self-control is positively related to subjective well-being. Moreover, thought control ability fully mediated the relationship between trait self-control and subjective well-being, and this effect was particularly strong for women. In Study 2, trait self-control was positively associated with adaptive forms of coping, but negatively with maladaptive coping. Moreover, thought control ability partially mediated the relationship between trait self-control and both types of coping, with stronger results for women than for men. These results suggest that trait self-control affects positive life outcomes in part through an ability to keep unwanted thoughts at bay, thereby facilitating a focus on goal pursuit

Developmental psychology · Maladaptive coping · Mediation · Self-control · Trait · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Clinical Psychology · Mental Health Research Topics · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology