Self-protection profiles of worth and academic goals in university students

Abstract

[Abstract] This work analyzes the possible existence of self-protection profiles based on a combination of self-handicapping (behavioral and claimed) strategies and defensive pessimism in university students. Similarly, the relationship between these profiles and academic goals (learning, performance-approach, performance-avoidance, and work-avoidance) is also examined. Nine hundred and forty university students participated in the study. Latent profile analysis identified six self-protection profiles of worth: the HS group (high in behavioral and claimed self-handicapping and in defensive pessimism); the LS group (low in behavioral and claimed self-handicapping and in defensive pessimism); the BSH/DP group (high in behavioral self-handicapping and defensive pessimism); the CSH group (high in claimed self-handicapping); the MSH group (moderate use of behavioral and claimed self-handicapping); and the HSH group (high in both types of self-handicapping). In terms of goal orientations, the LS and BSH/DP groups represented the most and least adaptive profiles, respectively. These results show the existence of a broader spectrum of self-worth protection profiles than that suggested by previous research in the university context. In addition, each of these profiles follows different motivational trajectories of achievement. The educational implications of these results are discussed.