Self-Handicapping Strategies in Emerging Adults Concerned about Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Year: 2015
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Self-handicapping is the process by which an individual reports or actively creates impediments to success on an approaching evaluative task in an attempt to preserve selfesteem.Over time, the use of self-handicapping strategies is associated with poor outcomes, including adjustment problems and lower academic performance.Unfortunately, little is known about the immediate performance outcomes associated with self-handicapping.Previous research suggests some individuals are at greater risk for demonstrating self-handicapping behaviors than others.Specifically, individuals who have experienced failure or perceive they experience a high level of problematic symptoms, and attribute these difficulties to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder may be susceptible to demonstrating self-handicapping in evaluative settings.The present study examined whether cuing self-handicapping resulted in increased use of selfhandicapping strategies (both self-reported and behavioral) in emerging adults who are concerned about ADHD.Participants were 103 emerging adults (ages 18 to 24) who completed a neuropsychological task designed to measure working memory.Prior to completing the task, participants were randomly assigned to receive one of two sets of instructions.51 were told the task was a measure of intelligence, while 52 were told the task was a prototype for a Smartphone application.All participants then completed selfreport measures of ADHD symptoms as well as a self-handicapping checklist.They were
Author: Jana B. Dykstra
Institution: Ohio University
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2521817349