Gender effects on self-regulation among university students

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the relation between self-regulation, psychopathology and gender amongst a group of South African university students (N=384). Self-regulation was measured with the Shortened Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SSRQ: Carey, Neal, & Collins, 2004), and psychopathology with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ: Goldberg & Hiller, 1979) as well as with an alcohol- and eating risk questionnaire. Results: A negative association was found between self-regulation and psychopathology, but significantly stronger for male students. Self-regulation was found to be more important to males regarding alcohol use and to females regarding eating behaviour. Gender differences in the relationship between self-regulation and psychopathology are probably due to differences in the tendency to rely on self or others, as well as to differences in socio-cultural and control mechanisms regarding alcohol and eating behaviour.