Developmental Trajectories of Teacher-Rated Self-Control, Poverty, and Body Mass Index in Elementary School-Aged Children

• In Event: Supporting Student Learning and Development During the Elementary School Years

Abstract

Self-regulation difficulties during childhood have been linked to body weight status and the development of obesity later in life. However, there is a lack of systematic examination of this relation in poverty contexts. “Skin-deep resilience” research highlighted a seemingly contradictory effect, where higher self-control skills among low-income minority youths were associated with adverse health outcomes. Nonetheless, this research has several methodological limitations and has not specifically focused on overweight/obesity issues in elementary school-aged children. Using nationally representative data, our study addresses these limitations and expands prior research on self-control and obesity. We found no evidence supporting the skin-deep resilience phenomenon. Our results suggest consistent associations between teacher-rated self-control and body weight status for children in poverty and non-poverty settings.

Authors

• Ji Hye Park, Seed Institute Inc.

• Eric Dearing, Boston College