Unraveling the Life-Course Dynamics of Self-Control and Deviance: A Longitudinal Study Using Add Health Data

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Abstract

Although classic self-control theory posits that self-control stabilizes around age 10, emerging evidence challenges this view, suggesting that self-control may continue to evolve throughout adolescence and early adulthood. However, few studies have systematically examined self-control trajectories over the life course or their influence on later-life criminal and deviant
behavior. This project examines the longitudinal interplay between self-control, social control, and deviance from adolescence to middle adulthood using Waves I-V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. The dataset spans ages 12-42 and includes validated multidimensional measures of self-control. Deviance in adulthood is operationalized as drug processing captured in Waves IV and V, while early criminal behavior is assessed across Waves I–III to identify
adolescent-limited offenders. Measures of social control including the change of
employment, marriage, and education. A second-order factor model is used to establish a robust measurement model of self-control, followed by group-based trajectory modeling
to uncover distinct developmental paths from age 10 to 40. A focused trajectory analysis during adolescence isolates the subgroup of adolescent-limited offenders (expected n ≈ 200–300). Finally, multivariate regression is used to estimate the impact of self-control trajectories and social control factors on late-stage deviance among these individuals.

Author

• Wenyi Wang, The University of Texas at Dallas