AN EXPLORATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF VIETNAMESE CHILDREN’S SELF-CONTROL ABILITY

Abstract

The purpose of the present research is to explore the development of self-control ability during childhood. A group of 360 children (185 boys and 175 girls from grades 2, 4, and 6) participated in the survey. They completed the Children’s Perceived Self-Control Scale (CPSC) which included the interpersonal self-control (ISC), the personal self-control (PSC), and the self-evaluation (SE) subscales. Results showed significant differences in ISC, SE and total scores among the second, fourth and sixth graders. On the total scores, the fourth graders had higher scores than the second and the sixth graders. Moreover, the scores of ISC of the fourth graders were higher than those of the sixth grades. There was no gender difference and interaction of gender and grade found. The results suggested that the development of self-control following a quadratic pattern increased and reached a peak in the fourth grade and then decreased during sixth grade time. Keywords: academic performance, self-control, self-ratings, Vietnamese children.