SHAALA-22: Construction and validation of the new academic self-handicapping scale

Abstract

The aim of this study was to construct and validate a new instrument for assessing Academic Self-Handicapping. The instrument consists of 22 items. A total of 251 participants, consisting of high-schoolers and university students, participated in the study. The results confirm sound psychometric properties and the validity of the scale. Exploratory factor analysis identified one component that explains 28% of the total variance. Convergent and discriminant validity was tested through correlation analyses with the subscales of the instruments HEXACO-60, Self-Liking/ Self-Competence scale, and Self-Handicapping Questionnaire. Academic Self-Handicapping was strongly negatively correlated with Conscientiousness, dimensions of Self-Esteem, Extraversion and Honesty, positively related with Emotionality and four Self-Handicapping strategies. In the paper we discuss potential understanding of Academic Self-Handicapping as the manifestation of depression in academic context and that the root cause of these behaviors lies in the achievement-oriented school system. We conclude that our instrument can be used to assess the Academic Self-Handicapping of students and can serve as a useful tool for understanding the psychological systems of students.