Fear of failure directly causes self-handicapping and reduced effort

the verdict

SUPPORTED

the evidence backs this

Recorded sources

2 sources for · 0 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Fear of failure is consistently linked in psychological research to self-handicapping behaviors and motivational avoidance, as individuals attempt to protect their self-worth against anticipated failure.

The analysis

The retrieved papers include studies that directly investigate the link between fear of failure and self-handicapping behaviors, finding positive associations and predictive relationships. No retrieved papers contradict this claim.

Evidence for · 2

Achievement Goals, Fear of Failure and Self-Handicapping in Young Elite Athletes with and without Chronic Pain

Recorded source metadata

Bodile Molenaar, Charlotte Willems, Jeanine Verbunt, Mariëlle Goossens. Achievement Goals, Fear of Failure and Self-Handicapping in Young Elite Athletes with and without Chronic Pain. 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8070591

Paper [4] finds that fear of failure and self-handicapping are significantly related and contribute to avoidance goals in elite athletes.

Source citation format

See more details

More for · 1

Exploring potential mediating mechanisms between maladaptive perfectionism and athlete burnout based on multi-theory perspectives.

Recorded source metadata

Kang W, Gong C. Exploring potential mediating mechanisms between maladaptive perfectionism and athlete burnout based on multi-theory perspectives.. 2024. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1416281

Paper [10] confirms that fear of failure positively predicts self-handicapping and acts as a significant mediator in psychological distress models.

Source citation format

The paper trail · every fact has a biography

first checked01 Aug 2026

judged → SUPPORTED · 8101 Aug 2026

More receipts

Is it true that Phonological evolution involves regular processes of phoneme elision, vowel nasalization, and tonogenesis?Is it true that Hemangiomas are treatable with medication?Is it true that Research identifies forms of intelligence that diverge from standard IQ measures?

Random receipt →The Trust Wiki →

Anyone with this link can read the claim and its public receipt, including any personal information in that text. Open permanent receipt.

Check your own claim

Challenge the receipt

I have a source that contradicts this verdict I have a source that supports it No source: request a receipt review Requests are recorded for review. This does not start an automatic check or guarantee a response time.

trust me, bro: win the argument, pass the class, survive peer review.

Citation formatting by citeproc-js (Frank Bennett) and the Citation Style Language project. Source and licenses.

This receipt is an automated verdict against our published method · not an opinion about any author or publication.
Terms · Privacy · How verdicts work · Dispute this receipt