Self-control in young university students: an analysis of its characteristics and dimensions

Juan Y. Telumbre-Terrero, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Carmen, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, México
Lucely Maas-Góngora, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Carmen, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, México
Lubia C. Castillo-Arcos, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Carmen, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, México
Pedro M. Noh-Moo, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Carmen, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, México
Lucero Fuentes-Ocampo, Centro Interdisciplinario del Noreste, Universidad de Guanajuato, Tierra Blanca, Guanajuanto, México

Introduction: Self-control has been a focus of interest in promoting the emotional well-being of young people. Objective: To analyze self-control globally and by dimension in university students. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional, non-experimental quantitative study was conducted with 519 university students selected through simple random sampling. The Brief Self-Control Scale was used, and data analysis was performed using SPSS version 23. Results: Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found based on sociodemographic characteristics, with self-control and the impulse control dimension being higher in women and the self-discipline dimension higher in men. Both dimensions were also higher in young people who study and work simultaneously. Conclusion: Self-control in university students is adequate, indicating that this group possesses individual resources that allow them to regulate their behavior in both individual and collective settings.

Keywords: Young adult. Students. Self-control. Mental health.