Bidirectional relations between autonomous motivations and approach goals and their contribution to school functioning

Abstract

This study examined the cross-lagged relationships between students’ autonomous motivations (intrinsic motivation and identified regulations) and approach goals (mastery and performance) in school. The sample included 449 students (52% girls) in Grades 7 and 8 (secondary 1 and 2). Results showed that intrinsic motivation (IM) positively predicted approach goals 20 months later, while mastery-approach goals (MAp) positively predicted autonomous motivations. A second objective was to test the contributions of autonomous motivations and approach goals to students’ school functioning measured 32 months after the beginning of the study. Five main findings can be highlighted: IM contributed to (1) increased academic achievement (via high MAp and PAp), (2) increased social anxiety (via high PAp), and (3) decreased disruptive behaviours (via high MAp); MAp goals predicted (4) a decreased in disruptive behaviours (via high identified regulation) and (5) increases in achievement (via high IM). Implications for education stakeholders are presented.

Keywords:

• Autonomous motivations
• approach goals
• disruptive behaviours
• social anxiety academic achievement

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the Fonds de Recherche sur la Société et la Culture (FQRSC).