How specific is domain-specific self-control? A longitudinal study of the mediating role of alcohol-specific self-control in the effect of general self-control on adolescent alcohol use.

Abstract

Although accumulating studies indicate that alcohol-specific self-control can be useful in predicting adolescent alcohol use, little is known about the specificity of this concept. This longitudinal study advances our understanding of domain-specific self-control by examining whether alcohol-specific self-control only mediates the effect of general self-control on adolescent alcohol use or also the effect of general self-control on other behaviour (adolescent digital media use). Data from 906 adolescents (M = 12.19, SD = 0.51) who were enrolled in the Dutch study named ‘PAS’ (Prevention of Alcohol Use in Students) were used. Data were collected using online questionnaires at four annual measurements. As expected, structural equation modelling revealed that higher alcohol-specific self-control completely mediated the effect of higher general self-control on less adolescent alcohol use. Consistent with the second hypothesis, alcohol-specific self-control did not mediate the effect of higher general self-control on less adolescent digital media use. These results demonstrate that alcohol-specific self-control is actually domain-specific. This provides evidence for the theoretical use of this concept in the explanation of adolescent alcohol use. Besides, the results emphasize the need of alcohol intervention programs to focus on improving alcohol-specific self-control in order to reduce the level of adolescent alcohol use.