Psychological Development and Education ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (5): 737-737.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2026.05.12

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The Longitudinal Relationship between Adolescents’ Self-control and Sleep Quality

WANG Huihui1, TANG Shenpei1, WEN Zhonglin2, FANG Jie3, WANG Xiangmei4, ZHANG Tingrong5, WANG Qinghua6, DAI Linna7   

  1. 1. College of Teacher Education, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021;
    2. School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631;
    3. Institute of Development and Reform & Center for Studies of Rural Construction, Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, Guangzhou 510320;
    4. Yinchuan No. 6 Middle School, Yinchuan 750000;
    5. Affiliated Middle School of Ningxia Normal University, Guyuan 756000;
    6. Yongning Yinzihu School, Yinchuan 750100;
    7. Lakeside Middle School, Yinchuan 750004
  • Published:2026-09-12

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Abstract: This study used a longitudinal design and a daily diary method to examine the reciprocal effects of adolescents’ self-control and sleep quality across different time scales. Study 1 administered three follow-up surveys at six-month intervals among 656 secondary school students. Cross-lagged panel model analysis revealed a unidirectional effect at the long-term scale. Specifically, pretest trait self-control exerted a significant positive effect on post-test sleep quality, but the opposite effect was not statistically significant. In Study 2, a 10-day daily diary design was adopted among 414 volunteer middle school students from Study 1 across consecutive school days. Dynamic structural equation modeling indicated a reciprocal positive reinforcing effect at the short-term level. Specifically, daily sleep quality significantly and positively predicted next-day state self-control, whereas daily state self-control also significantly and positively predicted subsequent sleep quality. Through multi-time-scale analyses, this study revealed a pattern of long-term unidirectional and short-term reciprocal effects between adolescents’ self-control and sleep quality. These findings provide an empirical basis for targeted intervention aimed at cultivating self-control abilities and healthy sleep habits during this critical developmental stage.

Key words: sleep quality, self-control, diary method, cross-lagged panel, dynamic structural equation modeling

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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