Investigation Role of Educational Optimism, Metacognitive Beliefs and Cognitive Emotion Regulation in Prediction of Self-Handicapping in Students with Special Learning Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to predict of self-handicapping based on educational optimism, metacognitive beliefs and cognitive emotion regulation in students with learning disabilities. The research method was descriptive correlational. The statistical population consisted of 540 third- to fifth-grade male primary students with all kinds of learning disabilities who had been referred by the schools to the Center for Learning Disabilities of Bushehr province’s Department of Education in 2018-2019 school year. Of these, using simple sampling and considering the requirements of the research project, 225 students were selected. The research instrument consisted of cognitive-emotional adjustment of Garnowsky et al questionnaire (2001), meta-cognitive beliefs of Wales and Carthage questionnaire (2004), academic happiness of Shirer and Carver questionnaire (1985) and Midgley self-advancement Scale (2000). The data from the implementation of the questionnaires were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and regression methods. Findings showed that Educational optimism, metacognitive beliefs and cognitive emotional regulation can predict self-handicapping of students with learning disabilities negatively (p < 0.001, R2=0/156). These results indicate that there is existence of low educational optimism, metacognitive beliefs and cognitive emotion regulation in students with learning disabilities with procrastination in academic tasks and lack of positive motivation have effective role in self-handicapping, academic failure and consequently the continuation of this disorder in these students. Therefore, it is possible to improve the educational performance and mental health of these students through training and applying appropriate educational methods. It also provides the way for all-round advancement for students with low self-handicapping.