Identifying latent classes of self-esteem level, self-esteem stability, and internalized shame among Korean college students: Relations to self-handicapping behaviors

Abstract

This study determined whether there are distinct classes considering self-esteem level, self-esteem stability, and internalized shame related to the perception of self-worth or emotion and whether there is any difference in self-handicapping among the classes. Latent Class Analysis and One-way Anova analysis were conducted on the data from 336 Korean college students. In results, three classes were identified: high level but low stability and internalized shame class, moderate level, stability and internalized shame class, low level but high stability and internalized shame class. Self-esteem and internalized shame classes were significantly characterized in regards to self-handicapping behaviors. The low level but high stability and internalized shame class showed the greatest level of self-handicapping behaviors. Distinct types of Korean college students belong to self-esteem level, stability and internalized shame class, suggesting that individual differences be considered in interventions for self-handicapping behaviors.