Previous research has looked at the consequences of self-handicapping and have suggested that self-handicapping leads to a more positive mood (at least in the short term)[29][30] or at least guards against a drop in positive mood after failure.[31] Thus, self-handicapping may serve as a means of regulating one's emotions in the course of protecting one's self-esteem.[32] However, based on past evidence that positive mood motivates self-protective attributions for success and failure[33] and increases the avoidance of negative feedback,[34] recent research has focused on mood as an antecedent to self-handicapping; expecting positive mood to increase self-handicapping behaviour.[35] Results have shown that people who are in positive mood are more likely to engage in self-handicapping, even at the cost of jeopardizing future performance.

Research suggests that among those who self-handicap, self-imposed obstacles may relieve the pressure of a performance and allow one to become more engaged in a task.[36] While this may enhance performance in some situations for some individuals,[37] in general, research indicates that self-handicapping is negatively associated with performance, self-regulated learning, persistence and intrinsic motivation.[20][38] Additional long-term costs of self-handicapping include worse health and well-being, more frequent negative moods and higher use of various substances.[30]