Perceived instructor affective support in relation to academic emotions and motivation in college

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations among perceived instructor affective support, academic enjoyment, academic hopelessness, behavioural engagement and academic help seeking in college classrooms. A self-report survey was administered to 277 college students enrolled in a teacher training department of a major university in Turkey. Structural equation modelling was used for data analysis. Perceived instructor affective support, either directly and/or indirectly, related to all emotional and motivational variables presented in the structural model. Findings signify the necessity of providing affectively supportive learning environments not only in K12 classrooms but also in college classrooms. The implications for practice and future research as well as the limitations are discussed.

Keywords:

• perceived instructor affective support
• academic enjoyment
• academic hopelessness
• behavioural engagement
• academic help seeking
• teacher training

Acknowledgement

The author would like to thank participating students for their sincere responses and also the Editor and three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions on earlier drafts of this manuscript.