Open AccessExamining the distinction between self-enhancement and self-protection in young adults: The roles of basic need satisfaction and psychological adjustment
Author(s) -
Asiye Yıldırım
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
psicologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.142
H-Index - 2
eISSN - 2183-2471
pISSN - 0874-2049
DOI - 10.17575/psicologia.v35i2.1718
Subject(s) - psychology , autonomy , competence (human resources) , self esteem , self enhancement , life satisfaction , social psychology , multilevel model , self concept , self , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , law , machine learning , political science , computer science
The current study explores the distinction between self-enhancement and self-protection as regards basic need satisfaction (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and psychological adjustment (i.e., global and contingent types of self-esteem and intolerance of uncertainty) in young adults. 531 undergraduates (365 females and 166 males) completed questionnaires assessing self-enhancement and self-protection, basic need satisfaction, global self-esteem, contingent self-esteem, and intolerance of uncertainty tendencies. Correlation, partial correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses were used. The results revealed that self-enhancement and self-protection were differently associated with basic need satisfaction and the other indicators of psychological adjustment. Accordingly, self-enhancement was positively predicted by need satisfaction and global self-esteem. However, self-protection was negatively predicted by these variables but positively predicted by the contingent type of self-esteem and intolerance of uncertainty. The results suggest that self-enhancement and self-protection are distinct motives. Self-enhancement is linked to psychological adjustment; whereas, self-protection is related to psychological maladjustment.