How does self-control shape health behaviour? Disentangling the interplay with motivational and volitional processes

Abstract

Background: An emerging body of research addresses how dispositional self-control promotes individuals’ health. This study examines if general and specific self-control are independent of, engender, mediate or moderate motivational and volitional processes related to condom use. Methods: A three-wave online study was conducted among 400 gay men. Time-lag logistic regression analyses were undertaken to predict condom use at wave 3. General self-control (Tangney et al., 2004; 10 items, alpha=.74), sexual self-control (Exner et al., 1992; 9 items, alpha=.77), intention (4 items, alpha=.89), willingness (22 items, alpha=.95), habit (10 items, alpha=.94), and planning (4 items, alpha=.86) measured at wave 1 or 2 were included, as appropriate to test particular hypotheses. Findings: General self-control did not influence condom use or its associations with motivational or volitional processes. Sexual self-control promoted condom use and mediated associations with motivational and volitional processes. Discussion: We found no effects of general self-control and effects of sexual self-control did not support theorizing of self-control as enabling resource. Findings underscore the importance of prospective population studies investigating how self-control influences health behaviours.