Interest, mental health, and attitudinal correlates of academic achievement among university students.

Abstract

Summary. The relationships between three levels of academic achievement and various interest, mental health, and attitudinal variables were examined. Using the regression equation method, a sample of 239 students enrolled in introductory psychology were assigned to a high‐achieving, average‐achieving, or low‐achieving group. The classification of each student was based on the relationship between his actual grade point average (GPA) in introductory psychology and the GPA which would be expected on account of his IQ score. All subjects completed the Strong Vocational Interest Blank for Men/Women, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and the Student Interest and Attitude Study II. Two separate factor analyses, one for men and one for women, were carried out on all variables which differentiated significantly and systematically between the high‐, average‐, and low‐achieving groups. For men seven factors were identified, for women only two factors. Especially noteworthy was the small number of interest variables which differentiated between the high‐, average‐, and low‐achieving women.