Perceived willpower self-efficacy fluctuates dynamically with affect and distress intolerance

People may experience subjective shifts in their self-efficacy for exerting willpower over time and based on context, and people who struggle with self-control may be particularly vulnerable to willpower self efficacy fluctuations. Across four samples (college students without borderline features: n = 49; borderline features group: n = 50; current smokers: n = 61; chronic dieters: n = 92), participants completed one week of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) where momentary self-efficacy for willpower, positive affect, negative affect, tiredness, and distress intolerance were assessed randomly seven times per day. Results revealed that higher willpower self-efficacy was associated with lower negative affect and greater positive affect, and, lower willpower self-efficacy predicted subsequent distress intolerance via time lagged analyses for the borderline features group. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study found that people's self-efficacy for willpower may fluctuate over time and based on context, with those who struggle with self-control being more vulnerable to these fluctuations. Higher willpower self-efficacy was associated with better emotional states, while lower willpower self-efficacy predicted subsequent distress intolerance in the borderline features group.