We summarize theory and research testing a mechanistic explanation for the trait self-control-health behavior relationship. Specifically, social cognition constructs summarizing individuals' utility, normative, risk, and capacity beliefs with respect to future health behavior performance are proposed to mediate the self-control-health behavior relationship. The effect represents the informational function of self-control in decision making. We also specify a mechanism wherein trait self-control moderates the intention-behavior relationship such that ‘good’ self-control affords effective intention-to-action translation. Both effects have pervasive support in the extent literature. We propose ongoing meta-analyses expected to provide further robust support for these mechanistic effects and the need for research employing designs enabling better directional and causal inferences in the effects, including experimental or types of cross-lagged panel design.

中文翻译：

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特质自我控制作为健康行为的决定因素：机制研究进展及未来研究方向


我们总结了理论和研究，测试了特质自我控制-健康行为关系的机制解释。具体来说，提出了总结个体对未来健康行为表现的效用、规范、风险和能力信念的社会认知结构，以调解自我控制-健康行为关系。该效应代表了自我控制在决策中的信息功能。我们还指定了一种机制，其中特质自我控制调节了意图-行为关系，使得 “良好 ”的自我控制提供了有效的意图-行动转换。这两种效应在程度文献中都有普遍的支持。我们提出了正在进行的荟萃分析，有望为这些机制效应提供进一步的有力支持，并且需要采用能够在效应中实现更好的方向和因果推理的设计的研究，包括实验或交叉滞后面板设计类型。