Trajectories of Self-Control in Emerging Adulthood: Implications for Academic, Psychological, and Career Development among Chinese College Students

This research examined the developmental trajectories of self-control in emerging adulthood and tested how the level and change of self-control contributed to academic, psychological, and career development among Chinese college students. Participants (N = 948; 64% female; Mage = 18.61 years at Wave 1) from eight Chinese public universities reported on their self-control through four waves of investigation from their first to third college year. Their college development outcomes in the academic, psychological, and career domains were assessed repeatedly at the third and fourth waves. Results showed that Chinese college students in general experienced a stable but decreasing trend of self-control development. Students with higher initial levels or increasing rates of self-control showed greater improvement in academic, psychological, and career development over time. These findings highlight the crucial role of self-regulatory processes as well as the importance of enhancing self-control for the well-rounded development among college students.