Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Defeatist Behavior among Academically Underperforming University Students

Badawy, Mamdouh Mahmoud Mostafa

doi:10.21608/jsrep.2024.401026

Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Defeatist Behavior among Academically Underperforming University Students "A Predictive Differential Study”

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Mamdouh Mahmoud Mostafa Badawy

Assistant Professor of Mental Health Faculty of Education for Boys, Al-Azhar University, Cairo

10.21608/jsrep.2024.401026

Abstract

This study aimed to predict defeatist behavior through the knowledge of emotion regulation difficulties and to explore the differences in emotion regulation difficulties and defeatist behavior according to the variables of gender and cultural background. The sample consisted of 214 academically underperforming university students. Cattell's Culture Fair Intelligence Test, translated and standardized by Ahmed Salama and Abdelsalam Abdelghaffar (1970), was used, in addition to the Family Disintegration and Cultural and Economic Deprivation Questionnaire, the Emotion Regulation Difficulties Scale, and the Defeatist Behavior Scale (all developed by the researcher). The results indicated that it is possible to predict the "overall degree of defeatist ‎behavior" in academically underperforming university students through the ‎knowledge of the "difficulty in modifying the ‎situation and difficulty in shifting attention". Additionally, ‎‎"anticipatory failure" can be predicted through the knowledge of the "difficulty in modifying the ‎situation, difficulty in shifting attention, and difficulty in expressing emotion". Furthermore, "constant focus on negatives" can be predicted through ‎the knowledge of "difficulty in shifting attention". Similarly, "low self-esteem" ‎can be predicted through the knowledge of the "difficulty in modifying the ‎situation, difficulty in expressing emotion and ‎difficulty in controlling emotions". Furthermore, "avoidance of social situations" can be ‎predicted through the knowledge of "difficulty in modifying the situation and ‎difficulty in controlling emotions". Additionally, "negativity and apathy" can be ‎predicted through the knowledge of "difficulty in modifying the situation.‎The results also indicated significant statistical differences between males and females in "difficulty in cognitive reappraisal, difficulty in controlling emotions," and in "anticipatory failure, constant focus on negatives, avoidance of social situations, and the overall degree of defeatist behavior," with a tendency towards females. In "difficulty in shifting attention" and in "negativity and apathy," there was a tendency towards males. The results also revealed differences between rural and urban areas in "difficulty in cognitive reappraisal, difficulty in controlling emotions, difficulty in shifting attention, and the overall degree of emotion regulation difficulties," with a tendency towards rural areas. In "anticipatory failure" and "negativity and apathy," there was a tendency towards urban areas.

Keywords

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