Ferradás, María del MarFreire, CarlosValle, AntonioNúñez, José CarlosRegueiro, BibianaVallejo, Guillermo2024-01-192016-01Ferradás, M. M., Freire, C., Valle, A., Núñez, J. C., Regueiro, B., & Vallejo, G. (2016). The relationship between self-esteem and self-worth protection strategies in university students. Personality and Individual Differences, 88, 236-241. DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2015.09.0290191-8869http://hdl.handle.net/2183/35006[Abstract] Self-esteem is one of the variables that are most frequently linked to the adoption of self-protection strategies. However, the nature of this relationship continues to be controversial. The present study examines the relationship between self-esteem and the use of behavioral and claimed self-handicapping, as well as of defensive pessimism, and their relationship with gender in university students. A total of 1031 university students took part in the study. For women, polynomial regression analysis demonstrated a negative linear relationship of claimed self-handicapping and a tendency toward a quadratic relationship in the case of behavioral self-handicapping, as well as a mainly quadratic relationship in the use of defensive pessimism. For men, a negative linear relationship was found in all cases. The theoretical and psychoeducational implications of these findings are discussed.eng©2015ElsevierLtd.All rights reserved.Self-esteemSelf-handicappingDefensive pessimismGenderUniversity studentsLinear and quadratic relationshipjournal articleembargoed access