ECPN poster contestant: A Daily Diary Investigation of Behavioral Disinhibition and Impulsive Behaviors

Introduction: Research has generally supported the theory that the over-exertion of self-regulation has a depleting effect on regulatory control, and may increase the likelihood of impulsive behavior. However, a recent meta-analysis and a replication report failed to find support for the theory of ego depletion. Reevaluation of current behavioral intervention programs (e.g., self-regulation enhancement programs) may be necessary if ego depletion is found to be a less salient predictor of impulsive behavior than once thought. The aim of the current study was to test the theory of ego depletion using a daily diary design. The diary design advances research in this domain as it allows examination of the within-subject variable of self-regulation and the between-subject variable of self-control. Multilevel modeling was used to examine the potential moderating effect of trait self-control on the relationships between (1) daily self-regulation and alcohol use and (2) daily self-regulation and aggressive behavior (i.e., direct, indirect aggression) to determine the utility of interventions to improve self-regulatory control on impulsive behavior.

Method: Participants were 105 (80% female) college student drinkers. Mean age was 23.81 (SD = 7.53) years. Students completed baseline assessments of their typical alcohol use, dispositional aggression, and trait self-control, and up to 14 consecutive, daily surveys regarding the prior days’ exertion of self-regulation, alcohol use, and aggression.

Results: Of the 1470 possible daily diary days, participants completed 1304 days, representing a compliance rate of 88.7%. Multilevel analyses revealed that exerting more self-regulation was associated with less alcohol consumption, B = -0.10, SE = 0.05, p = .025, and less indirect aggression, B = -0.14, SE = 0.05, p = .004, but was not significantly associated with direct aggression, B = 0.02, SE = 0.03, p = .585. Although trait self-control did not moderate the relationship between self-regulation and alcohol, B = 0.05, SE = 0.05, p = .367, it was found to be a significant moderator of the self-regulation-indirect aggression relationship, B = 0.13, SE = 0.06, p = .039.

Conclusions: Overall, current study results do not support the strength theory of self-regulation. Based on recent evidence, including the current study results, self-regulation does not appear to be as influential in predicting impulsive behavior as once presumed. Findings inform programs in which resources are being allocated to increase self-regulation, with the intent to reduce alcohol use and aggression. More research is needed to determine what factors, other than self-regulation, may increase the likelihood of these outcomes.