Self-esteem, self-confidence, anxiety and claimed self-handicapping: A mediational analysis

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to examine the mediational role of self-confidence and anxiety in the relationship between self-esteem and claimed self-handicapping in an achievement context. Design: To test this mediational role, the three-step procedure advocated by Baron and Kenny (1986) was used. Method: After hearing and reading about specific conditions of performing that were intended to favor invoking excuses for future poor performance, 68 competitive basketball players completed measures of self-esteem, anxiety (cognitive and somatic), self-confidence, and claimed self-handicapping. Then, they warmed-up and carried out a basketball task. Results: Self-esteem negatively predicted cognitive anxiety and positively predicted self-confidence. In turn, self-confidence negatively predicted claimed self-handicapping and mediated the relationship between self-esteem and claimed self-handicapping. Cognitive and somatic anxieties did not mediate the relationship between self-esteem and claimed self-handicapping. Together, these results suggest that individuals with low self-esteem use more claimed self-handicaps because they have lower selfconfidence. Conclusion: These findings shed light on the psychological processes that lead people with low selfesteem to use strategies of claimed self-handicaps. 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Berglas and Jones (1978) defined self-handicapping as “any action or choice of performance setting that enhances the opportunity to externalize (or excuse) failure and to internalize (reasonably accept credit for) success” (p. 406). For example, if a self-handicapping person performs poorly, then the failure can be attributed to the performance impediment rather than the person’s ability or competence. On the other hand, if the self-handicapping person performs well, then the athlete creates the impression of being especially competent and talented, because success was achieved despite obstacles. In addition, they may also internalize the augmented perceptions of competence (Baumeister, Tice, & Hutton, 1989). Self-esteem and self-handicapping strategies As noticed early by Jones and Berglas (1978), self-handicappers are legion in the sports world. Indeed, Rhodewalt (1990) mentioned that athletic and intellectual performance settings are particularly suited to examine self-handicapping in the face of evaluative threat and potentially self-damaging feedback. Field studies have been used to identify the antecedents of the use of self-handicaps prior to competitive or evaluated physical activity events (for reviews, see Coudevylle, Gernigon, Martin Ginis, & Famose, submitted for publication; Martin Ginis, Lindwall, & Prapavessis, 2007; Prapavessis, Grove, & Eklund, 2004). Self-esteem is one factor that has been studied as an antecedent. Self-esteem is the evaluation that individuals make and customarily maintainwith regard to themselves. It expresses an attitude of approval or disapproval toward the self (Rosenberg, 1965). Martin and Brawley (2002, Study 2) found that low self-esteem was associated with greater claimed self-handicapping prior to * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ590 48 31 70. E-mail addresses: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] (G.R. Coudevylle), [email protected] (C. Gernigon), [email protected] (K.A. Martin Ginis). URL: http://www.performance-sante.fr 1 Tel.: þ33 (0)4 67 41 57 51; fax: þ33 (0)4 67 41 57 08.