Self-defeating strategies among master’s and doctoral students in the field of business
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14392/asaa.2026190105Keywords:
academic self-sabotage, self-harming strategies, graduate studies, psychosocial careAbstract
Objective: To investigate the self-defeating strategies used by graduate students in the business field during the phases of completing coursework and writing dissertations or theses.
Method: application of the Self-Defeating Strategies Scale (EEAPREJ) by Boruchovitch et al. (2022) on a sample of 528 current students and graduates of stricto sensu graduate programs in Public Administration, Business Administration, and Accounting, using Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling.
Results: Although most students denied engaging in self-harming behaviors, practices such as procrastination and sabotage frequently occur at critical moments in their academic training, especially during the preparation of dissertations and theses. The factor structure of the scale was confirmed, revealing three main dimensions: procrastination, hyperactivity, and sabotage. The need for institutional interventions that promote psychosocial support was emphasized, aiming to enhance well-being and mitigate the negative impacts of self-harming strategies on academic performance.
Contributions: The findings contribute to understanding the challenges faced by students and to the development of mental health and psychosocial care policies, broadening the understanding of patterns of self-harming activities and their implications for the academic and professional development of graduate students. By highlighting that self-harming strategies persist, even among experienced individuals, the study points to the need for institutional interventions aimed at promoting self-regulation skills, mental health, and stress management, thereby mitigating the impacts of these behaviors on academic performance. Self-defeating behaviors are observed during the writing of theses and dissertations, precisely at the moment when all personal and financial investments have already been made.
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