Exploring Factors Related to Taiwanese Adolescent Students’ Academic Attributes and Engagement

Abstract

Exploring Factors Related to Taiwanese Adolescent Students’ Academic Attributes and Engagement Shu-Shen Shih Abstract The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships among Taiwanese adolescent students „perceptions of parental expectations along with parental criticism, satisfaction of the needs for autonomy and competence, implicit theories of intelligence, perfectionist tendencies, and academic procrastination in order to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms related to students‟ academic attributes and engagement. Four hundred and five eighth grade Taiwanese students completed a self-reported survey assessing the variables described above. Findings of hierarchical regression analyses suggested that parental expectations, parental criticism, and competence need satisfaction significantly predicted implicit theories of intelligence. In terms of perfectionistic tendencies, parental expectations and competence need satisfaction positively predicted positive striving (i.e., personal standards and organization), whereas parental criticism emerged as a negative predictor of positive striving. Further, parental expectations, parental criticism, and an entity theory of intelligence positively predicted evaluative concerns (i.e., concerns over mistakes and doubts about actions). With respect to academic procrastination, results of hierarchical regressions revealed that parental influences, satisfaction of the needs for competence, and perfectionistic tendencies all functioned as determinants of academic procrastination. Implications for educational practices and future research are discussed. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/jehd.v8n3a13