Age-dynamic effects of self-regulation and sensation seeking on offending among justice-involved youth

Abstract

Two constructs implicated in the etiology of offending (i.e., criminal behaviors that break a rule or law) are self-regulation and sensation seeking. The present study aimed to test if there was a developmental shift in the association between self-regulation and sensation seeking and offending from adolescence to early adulthood. Data were collected longitudinally from a justice-involved sample of male youth to determine the age-varying associations between self-regulation, sensation seeking, and offending. Results showed that higher impulse control was related to lower offending, and the magnitude of this association strengthened from adolescence to adulthood. Higher future orientation was related to lower offending, and this association was stronger during adolescence than adulthood. Higher sensation seeking was related to higher offending, and this association was stronger during adolescence than adulthood. These results suggest that the adolescent peak in offending may be due to its relatively weak association with impulse control that co-occurs with a stronger association with sensation seeking compared to adulthood. The developmental shift in the association between impulse control and offending may also distinguish between those who desist from offending as adults and those who persist.