Factors contributing to the development of self-regulation abilities in youth include genetic and environmental factors: together, they orchestrate inter- (and intra-) individual differences in brain development and lie at the basis of our cognitive skills and behavioural traits. They also determine our risk for mental disorders linked to self-regulation problems.

Understanding Self-Control in Adolescence

While we do not yet have much information about the genetic and environmental factors for self-regulation development in youth, and we still need the GUTS longitudinal study, we can also use existing large-scale data sets, such as the ABCD study. These data allow us to develop models to predict and understand the mediating and moderating factors of self-regulation. We can later test these in the new GUTS longitudinal cohort.

In Work Package 4, we aim to identify genetic and environmental factors associated with self-regulation abilities and outcomes using existing datasets.

Longitudinal Study Design

This work is currently ongoing, and the first findings are being published. In addition, we contribute to the collection of genome-wide genotyping data, various hormonal physical characteristics, and brain structure and function phenotypes in the longitudinal GUTS cohort to study the dynamics of those influences on self-regulation and their interplay.

Timeline and Expected Outcomes

The first wave will be completed at the end of 2026. In the coming years, the research team will prepare the next waves.

WP4:

• Hilleke Hulshoff Pol
• Barbara Franke
• Mark de Rooij
• Eveline Crone
• Ingmar Franken
• Lucres Nauta-Jansen
• Sonja de Zwarte
• Marieke Klein
• Janita Bralten
• Jalmar Teeuw
• Vera Goossens
• Barbara Sakic