Higher trait self-control is associated with less intense visceral states

Abstract

Trait self-control correlates with desirable outcomes including physical and psychological wellbeing and is thought to facilitate the formation of effective habits. Visceral states, including internal drives that motivate specific behaviors, have been found to undermine self-control. The current study tested the hypothesis that individuals higher in trait self-control experience less intense and a lower likelihood of visceral states and explored possible mediators. We found that trait self-control negatively correlates with responses to one-shot measures of hunger, fatigue, experiencing stress, and experiencing the common cold. Reports of recent sleeping and eating behavior mediated some of these relationships, consistent with the idea that healthful behaviors help individuals higher in trait self-control minimize visceral states. This research supports emerging perspectives on trait self-control's contributions to positive outcomes.

Self‐control and health‐related behaviour: The role of implicit self‐control, trait self‐control, and lay beliefs in self‐control

“…Current findings and previous evidence suggest that deficits in self-control may leave individuals vulnerable to conditions and cues that may initiate enactment of unhealthy behaviours such as impulsive eating or drinking, or impulse-related alternative health-related behaviours such as opting for sedentary activities instead of physical activity participation (e.g., Baldwin et al, 2018). Current findings and previous evidence suggest that deficits in self-control may leave individuals vulnerable to conditions and cues that may initiate enactment of unhealthy behaviours such as impulsive eating or drinking, or impulse-related alternative health-related behaviours such as opting for sedentary activities instead of physical activity participation (e.g., Baldwin et al, 2018).…”

“…Theory on self-control suggests that trait selfcontrol reflects individuals' capacity for impulse suppression and regulation of action over time (Paschke et al, 2016), and their ability to monitor and attend to cues to engage in goal-directed behaviours, and disregard or manage cues for behaviours that may derail the goal-directed actions (Baldwin, Finley, Garrison, Crowell, & Schmeichel, 2018;Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990). Theory on self-control suggests that trait selfcontrol reflects individuals' capacity for impulse suppression and regulation of action over time (Paschke et al, 2016), and their ability to monitor and attend to cues to engage in goal-directed behaviours, and disregard or manage cues for behaviours that may derail the goal-directed actions (Baldwin, Finley, Garrison, Crowell, & Schmeichel, 2018;Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990).…”

Self-Control and Health-Related Behavior: The Role of Implicit Self-Control, Trait Self-Control, and Beliefs in Self-Control

“…Knowledge that trait self-control is associated with participation in health-related behaviours also has practical value. Current findings and previous evidence suggests that deficits in self-control may leave individuals vulnerable to conditions and cues that may initiate enactment of unhealthy behaviours such as impulsive eating or drinking, or impulse-related alternative health-related behaviours such as opting for sedentary activities instead of physical activity participation (e.g., Baldwin et al, 2018). As with all dispositional constructs that predict behavioural outcomes, a concern is that because traits are relatively stable and unmalleable, interventions designed to improve dispositional self-control may not be successful in bringing about necessary behaviour change.…”

“…Researchers interested in the mechanisms underpinning relations between trait self-control and behaviour have identified two prominent pathways: a deliberative process in which trait selfcontrol confers increased motivation to engage in goal-directed behaviour, and greater capacity to actively monitor and resolve cues to impulsive behaviours, and an implicit process in which individuals are biased toward control-related cues and away from cues to impulse related behaviours. Theory on self-control suggests that trait self-control reflects individuals' capacity for impulse suppression and regulation of action over time (Paschke et al, 2016), and their ability to monitor and attend to cues to engage in goal-directed behaviours, and disregard or manage cues for behaviours that may derail the goal-directed actions (Baldwin, Finley, Garrison, Crowell, & Schmeichel, 2018;Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990). The reported relations between self-report measures of trait self-control and health-related outcomes may reflect both sets of processes.…”

A Social Clinical Perspective on Perfectionism in Disordered Eating Behaviour

“…Therefore those high in self-control may have low dieting intentions because they are already close to their ideal weight (Keller & Siegrist, 2014), and not because they take on beneficial habits to achieve their goals. Alternatively, it may be that thinner individuals (or more successful dieters) have greater self-control for food due to natural biological variation; they simply do not experience the same amount of temptation due to experiencing less hunger or not experiencing food rewards in the same way (Baldwin, Finley, Garrison, Crowell, & Schmeichel, 2018;Meule, Lutz, Vögele, & Kübler, 2012;Ouwehand & Ridder, 2008). In either case, the link between self-control and dieting intent might be better described by the link between weight and dieting intent, as lower weight confers self-control to an individual.…”