Year

2019

Season

Fall

Paper Type

Master's Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

NACO controlled Corporate Body

University of North Florida. Department of Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Christopher Leone

Second Advisor

Dr. Jennifer Wolff

Third Advisor

Dr. Angela Mann

Department Chair

Dr. Lori Lange

Abstract

The first hypothesis was self-regulation and future orientation would mediate the effects of age on delay discounting. The second hypothesis was future orientation would be a stronger mediator than self-regulation of the effects of age on delay discounting. The third hypothesis was sensation seeking would moderate these mediation effects. A total of 216 participants, ranging from 12 years old to 18 years old, completed the Future Orientation Scale (Steinberg, Graham, O’Brien, Woolard, Cauffman, & Banich, 2009), the Self-Regulation Questionnaire (Neal & Carey, 2005), the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale (Whiteside & Lynam, 2001), the Original Monetary Choice Questionnaire (Kirby, Petry, & Bickel, 1999), and the general demographics survey on Inquisit. Andrew Hayes’ (2013) PROCESS program was used to analyze mediation and moderated mediation models. Mediation and moderated-mediation were not supported. It’s possible a restriction in age range, selection bias and/or attrition bias, and inappropriate measurement of delay discounting led to null results. Furthermore, using longitudinal designs and including multiple measures of self-regulation, future orientation, and delay discounting in future research may better represent adolescents’ decision making.

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