Understanding the Relationship Between Trait Self-Control, Planning, and Tutorial Attendance
Channel: AusPLAT Conferences and Roundtables
Date: 2022-04-12

Self-control is an important individual difference factor that is well-supported empirically as impacting upon goal attainment. Recent research suggests trait self-control may impact goal attainment indirectly via planning. The current study sought to examine the relationship between trait self-control and tutorial attendance as an indicator of goal attainment in university students directly, and indirectly via action planning and coping planning. The study used a three-wave longitudinal design with first year university students (N = 279) completing a baseline measure of self-control, and measures of planning for course engagement 4 weeks later. An objective measure of tutorial attendance was calculated at the end of the academic term. Path analysis with a robust estimator revealed that trait self-control directly predicted tutorial attendance directly, and indirectly via action planning but not coping planning. Trait self-control also directly predicted action planning and coping planning but coping planning did not predict tutorial attendance. The results supported prior research suggesting that trait self-control impacts goal attainment via planning in an academic context. Findings suggest that encouraging action planning may be a useful strategy for promoting tutorial attendance.