A Research On Women's University Students On The Characteristics Of Self-worth Defense Strategies And Related Factors

The self-worth defense strategy is refers to taking steps to making a protective excuse for the possible upcoming threat of self-worth. The aim is protecting or enhancing one's sense of self-worth and self-competence. As an important aspect of psychological quality, the sense of self-worth produces great influences on student's cognition, motivation, affection and social behaviors. According to Covington's self-worth theory of motivation, the central part of students' performance is to protect one's self-worth. But virtually, the self-worth defense strategy is a passive adapting behavior, which through passive self-schema aroused. In the long run, it would be harmful for individual growth. It has been found that self-worth defense is closely associated with various factors such as one's self-efficiency, external attribution and achievement goals orientation. The present study further explored self-worth defense strategy of girl collegian and associated with self-efficiency, external attribution, and achievement goals orientation, especially investigated the mediating effect of achievement goals orientation on the relationship between self-efficiency, external attribution and self-worth defense strategy.By the questionnaire on 846 girl students, these collusions were be found:1. There were some self-worth defense appearances among college students; the scores of defensive pessimism were higher than self-handicapping. There was significant interaction effect between grade and profession on college students' self-handicapping. There was significant main effect of grade on defensive pessimism.2. In the holistic model of self- worth defense strategies, self-efficacy and mastery goals orientation negatively predict self-handicapping strategy, external attribution positively predict self-handicapping strategy ; external attribution self-efficacy and achievement goals orientation positively predict defensive pessimism.3. Girl students' achievement goals orientation performed the intermediary function between self-worth defense strategy and self-efficacy, external attribution.4. Various variables of self-worth defense strategies have grade differences. The scores of self- efficiency increased with the rising her grade. The scores of mastery goals orientation declined with the rising her grade. There was significant interaction effect between grade and profession on college students' performance goals orientation.