(The Lion) — Previous generations called it self-control; today’s analysts prefer the term conscientiousness.

“Teaching conscientiousness – a personality trait that’s about more than self-control – may actually be the path for helping our children be the best versions of themselves,” writes Jasmine Mote in a recent article for the Scientific American.

“Conscientiousness is one of the Big Five personality traits that predict academic success (alongside extraversion, agreeableness, openness to experience, and neuroticism). Conscientious people tend to show self-control, but they also follow rules, show up on time, and work hard.”

While this characteristic is “often underappreciated” in modern society, Mote cites new research emphasizing practical benefits for parents in modeling conscientiousness for their children.

“Conscientious people have better health, are less likely to be depressed, are wealthier and live longer, compared to people who are less conscientious,” Mote writes.

“When compared to extraversion, conscientiousness is more strongly related to academic success, work performance and lower rates of substance use. Conscientious people have grit.”

‘The famous marshmallow test’

Mote defines self-control as the ability to choose the best of “multiple competing desires” – such as the “famous marshmallow test” where children could either eat one marshmallow immediately or wait to receive two marshmallows later.

“The original studies found that children who waited for that additional marshmallow had more academic success in adolescence compared to those who gave into temptation,” she explains.

However, the test may not reflect children’s inherent willpower so much as their consistent actions to practice beneficial choices over time, according to Mote.

“In a recent review, researchers found that changing in-the-moment self-control (e.g., waiting for that second marshmallow one time) does not lead to months- or years-long changes in how consistently we wait for that second marshmallow,” she writes.

“People who show more consistent self-control don’t necessarily do so all the time. On the contrary, they just avoid temptation in the first place, so that they don’t have to exercise restraint and show less (not more) self-control in their daily lives.”

Children born to conscientious parents have an estimated 40-50% chance of “inheriting” the trait, Mote concludes.

“This also suggests that environment and upbringing play a substantial role in whether people become conscientious adults.”

‘Nurturing conscientiousness’ in practical ways

Rather than advocating for a “gentle parenting” approach, Mote recommends “authoritative parenting” as a step to raising conscientious children.

“Authoritative parenting, characterized by warmth, structure and limit-setting, appears to be related to higher rates of conscientiousness in children,” she writes. “Authoritative parenting is also related to secure attachment between parents and children, which is associated with more conscientiousness.”

Parents should also take time to explain the rationale behind family rules, according to Mote.

“Rather than simply telling my son he shouldn’t shove people ‘because I said so,’ I could explain that our family believes it’s important not to hurt others and that we don’t push others because we could hurt them (even when you’re a dinosaur).”

Although parental investment in this process requires time and effort, payoffs may come later in terms of less stress and burnout, Mote argues.

“Cultivating conscientiousness in our children may not only help them thrive but help us manage our own stress. One study found that traits like agreeableness and conscientiousness in French children were related to less burnout in their parents, including parents reporting less emotional exhaustion and more self-efficacy in their parenting.”

Ultimately, recognizing conscientiousness as an important personality trait can give parents the awareness needed to help their children toward a more fulfilling future, according to Mote.

“All children, regardless of ability, deserve parents with realistic and flexible expectations around the potential for change as we work towards nurturing conscientiousness in our families.”