title: Does Trauma Impair Self-Control? Differences in Delaying Gratification Between Former Indentured Child Laborers and Nontraumatized Controls.
abstract: Traumatic experiences may affect an individual's ability to exercise self-control, which is an essential characteristic for successfully managing life. As a measure of self-control, we used the delay discounting paradigm, that is, the extent to which a person devalues delayed gratification. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma and delay discounting using a control group design with elderly participants with a mean age of 76.2 years. Swiss former indentured child laborers (n=103) who had been exposed to trauma during their childhood were compared with nontraumatized controls (n=50). The trauma exposure group showed a considerably higher preference for immediate smaller rewards than the controls, indicating their lower self-control. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that a history of abuse, current self-efficacy, and education were significantly associated with delay discounting. Implications for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Keti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Simmen-Janevska
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Forstmeier
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krammer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maercker
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology