Defensive Pessimism and Academic Performance in University Students: Mediating Role of Study Efforts

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52053/jpap.v6i4.442

Keywords:

Academic Performance, Defensive Pessimism, Study Efforts, University Students

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between defensive pessimism, academic performance with mediating role of study efforts among university students in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. It was hypothesized that defensive pessimism has a relationship with study efforts and academic performance and study efforts is likely to mediate the relationship between defensive pessimism and academic performance. A correlational research design was employed, and a sample of 285 undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students was selected. Data was collected through standardized scales, including the Defensive Pessimism Questionnaire (DPQ), Academic Performance Scale (APS) and Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). Pearson product moment correlation and process macro through SPSS were used for data analysis. Results revealed that defensive pessimism significantly correlate with study efforts and academic performance. Moreover, study efforts partially mediated the relationship between defensive pessimism and study efforts. Findings highlight the importance of study efforts in academic performance and suggest that defensive pessimism, though counterintuitive, can positively contribute to academic performance when mediated through study efforts.

References

Abbasian, E., & Nematollahi, H. (2024). Evaluating the impact of E-learning effectiveness factors and self-regulated learning on University of Tehran students, with personality traits as mediators. Interdisciplinary Journal of Management Studies, 18(1), 71–90. http://doi.org/10.22059/ijms.2024.368803.676385

Abood, M. H., Mhaidat, F. A., Alharbi, B. H., Ghbari, T. A., & Alzyoud, N. F. (2025). A group counseling program based on cognitive-behavioral theory: Enhancing self-efficacy and reducing pessimism in academically challenged high school students. Open Education Studies, 7(1), 20250090. http://doi.org/10.1515/edu-2025-0090 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/edu-2025-0090

Adil, A., Ameer, S., Ghayas, S., Niazi, S., & Yousaf, A. (2021). Mediating role of self-handicapping behaviors between academic psychological capital and academic performance among university students. BPA – Applied Psychology Bulletin (Bollettino di Psicologia Applicata), LXIX, 2-12.

Atta, M. H. R., Rushdan, E. E., & Elzohairy, N. W. (2024). The relationship between defensive pessimism, goal orientation, and self-esteem among nursing students. SAGE Open Nursing, 10, http://doi.org/10.1177/23779608241293662 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608241293662

Gibbons, C. (2024). Untangling the role of optimism, pessimism and coping influences on student mood, motivation and satisfaction. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 61(6), 1368–1383. http://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2023.2265104 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2023.2260780

Hayat, A. A., Kiani, H., Ramezani, G., & Keshavarzi, M. H. (2024). Examining the mediating role of test anxiety in the relationship between procrastination and self-handicapping of students. Strides in Development of Medical Education, 21(1), 129–137. http://doi.org/10.5812/sdme-129137

Huang, Z., Choi, D.-H., Lai, B., Lu, Z., & Tian, H. (2022). Metaverse-based virtual reality experience and endurance performance in sports economy: Mediating role of mental health and performance anxiety. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 991489. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.991489 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.991489

Lei, F., & Lei, L. (2022). How does the optimism of students learning a foreign language affect their creative self-efficacy? The mediating effects of hope and empathy. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 831593. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.831593 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.831593

Liu, L., Li, J., & Li, Y. (2025). Mediating roles of perceived social support and hopelessness in the relationship between negative life events and self-identity acquisition among Chinese college students with left-behind and/or migrant experiences. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1530107. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1530107 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1530107

Ma, J., & Hu, L. (2025). Harnessing research pressure: A dual chain mediation effects of achievement motivation and research anxiety on innovative behavior under challenge–hindrance research stressors. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 831–850. http://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S497460 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S516863

Norem, J. K. (2001). Defensive pessimism, optimism, and pessimism. In E. C. Chang (Ed.), Optimism & pessimism: Implications for theory, research, and practice (pp. 77–100). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10385-004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/10385-004

Norem, J. K., & Cantor, N. (1986). Defensive pessimism: Harnessing anxiety as motivation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1208–1217. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1208 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.51.6.1208

Panah, R. K., & Latifi, F. (2025). A qualitative study of the academic performance and career goal orientation of male adolescents with signs of dependent personality. International Journal of New Findings in Health and Educational Sciences, 3(2), 142–153. https://doi.org/10.63053/ijhes.141 DOI: https://doi.org/10.63053/ijhes.81

Pereira, A. T., Cabaços, C., Marques, C. C., Araújo, A. I., & Macedo, A. (2024). Perfectionism and cognitive and emotional reactions to climate change and psychological distress. Sustainability, 16(21), 9221. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219221 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219221

Safitri, I., Yundianto, D., & Ar-Rafi, D. (2024). The Role of Self-Efficacy on Academic Stress with Optimism as a Moderating Variable. Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran, 8(1), 53–60. https://doi.org/10.23887/jipp.v8i1.59341 DOI: https://doi.org/10.23887/jipp.v8i1.60819

Sarteshnizi, P. R., Farsani, Z. K., & Rabiei, M. (2023). Mediating role of academic performance and job search self-efficacy in correlation between career optimism and pessimism and students’ employability perception. Positive Psychology Research, 9(2), 43–64. https://doi.org/10.22051/PPR.2023.41316.1193

Schwinger, M., Trautner, M., Pütz, N., Fabianek, S., Lemmer, G., Lauermann, F., & Wirthwein, L. (2022). Why do students use strategies that hurt their chances of academic success? A meta-analysis of antecedents of academic self-handicapping. Journal of Educational Psychology, 114(3), 576–603. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000584 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000706

Talsma, K., Robertson, K., Thomas, C., & Norris, K. (2021). COVID-19 beliefs, self-efficacy and academic performance in first-year university students. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 643408. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.643408 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.643408

Tan, E. W.-Y., & Prihadi, K. D. (2022). Fear of Failure and Academic Procrastination among University Students. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 11(1), 69–77. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v11i1.21881 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v11i1.22201

Tekin, I., Yüksel, M., & Ek?i, H. (2023). The predictors of defensive pessimism: Cognitive flexibility, anxiety, and big-five personality traits. Current Psychology, 42(20), 17163–17173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03107-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03168-x

Tosun, B., & Çetin, F. (2025). Mitigating Student Cynicism for Sustainable Academic Performance: University Identification and Academic Self-Efficacy. Sustainability, 17(10), 4263. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104263 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104263

Zeidan, S., & Prentice, C. (2022). The journey from optimism to cynicism: The mediating and moderating roles of coping and training. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 71, 102796. https://doi.org/102796.10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.102796 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.102796

Downloads

Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

Majeed, R., Saba, M., & Javaid, F. (2025). Defensive Pessimism and Academic Performance in University Students: Mediating Role of Study Efforts. Journal of Professional & Applied Psychology, 6(4), 513–523. https://doi.org/10.52053/jpap.v6i4.442