Examining the relationship between trait self-control and stress: Evidence on generalizability and outcome variability

Nielsen, Kristian S; Bauer, Jan M; Hofmann, Wilhelm

Examining the relationship between trait self-control and stress: Evidence on generalizability and outcome variability

Authors

Nielsen, Kristian S

Bauer, Jan M

Hofmann, Wilhelm

Publisher

Elsevier
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2019.103901

Description

Trait self-control has in several studies been found negatively linked to stress. These studies have, however, mostly relied on student and/or one-country samples. Study 1 investigated the generalizability of the relationship between trait self-control and stress through a four-country survey (N = 4097). The results showed consistently strong and negative relationships between trait self-control and stress across the four countries. Study 2 investigated the relationship between trait self-control and daily stress through a two-week diary study (N = 594; nobs = 7880), showing that trait self-control was negatively related to daily stress and stress variability. Together, the two studies show that trait self-control’s negative link to stress generalizes beyond students and the United States.