The influence of study interests on school achievement: The role of future time perspective and positive affect

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ABSTRACT

The study was designed to test the impact of study interests on achievement, considering the mediating role of future time perspective and basic positive affect (attentiveness, joviality and self-assurance). A total of 675 Italian students attending 10th and 11th grade of high school (F = 342, 50.7%) were involved in the current study. Students’ ages ranged from 16 to 19 years (M_age = 17.44 years; SD = .84 years). Study interests and scores were self-reported by students; furthermore, they completed the Italian version of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – Expanded Form. To test mediational effects, we used a multiple mediator model. Results showed that future time perspective and attentiveness partially mediated the relation between school interests and achievement. Practical tips on intervention programs to counteract school failure are provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Study interests
• school achievement
• positive affect
• attentiveness
• future time perspective

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Giovanni Maria Vecchio

Giovanni Maria Vecchio, PhD, is an Associate Professor in Department of Education at Roma Tre University. His Current themes of research is Academic self-efficacy and Self-regulated learning in childhood and adolescence, Vocational behavior and motivation in secondary school, Positive Youth Development programs in the schools, Development of prosocial behavior; Teachers’ educational practices. [email protected].

Antonia Lonigro

Antonia Lonigro, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea di Roma, Her Current themes of research is Social use of theory of mind, pragmatic abilities, internal state language, written and oral persuasion, social behavior in school-aged children, autism spectrum disorder. [email protected].

Fiorenzo Laghi

Fiorenzo Laghi, PhD, is a Full Professor in Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome. His Current themes of research is Social adjustment, risk behavior in adolescence, autism spectrum disorder, social interaction. [email protected].

Barbara Barcaccia

Barbara Barcaccia, PhD, is a Post doctoral fellow Department of Education, Roma Tre University. Current themes of research is Forgiveness as a protective resource for adolescents, mindfulness, obsessive-compulsive tendencies in adolescents. [email protected].

Susanna Pallini

Susanna Pallini, PhD, is a Full Professor in Department of Education, Roma Tre University. Current themes of research of Emotion regulation attention regulation and self-regulation in childhood, attachment representations and teacher-student relationship. Vocational behavior and motivation in secondary school. [email protected].