Mothers’ and Teachers’ Autonomy Support in Relation to Children’s Academic Procrastination: Self-Efficacy for Self-Regulated Learning as a Mediator

Abstract

This study investigated the association between children’s perceptions of autonomy support from mothers and teachers in relation to academic procrastination. It also examined the role of self-efficacy for self-regulated learning in mediating these effects. The sample comprised 372 fifth and sixth grade elementary school students from Seoul, Korea. Each completed a questionnaire regarding mothers’ and teachers’ autonomy support, children’s self-regulated learning efficacy, and academic procrastination. The results indicated that whereas mothers’ autonomy support had a direct effect on children’s academic procrastination, teachers’ support did not. In other words, children who perceived higher levels of autonomy support from mothers tended to exhibit less academic procrastination. Regarding indirect paths, children who perceived higher levels of mothers’ and teachers’ autonomy support displayed greater efficacy for selfregulated learning, which corresponded to lower levels of academic procrastination. The discussion highlights the vital roles of autonomy support from mothers and teachers in enhancing children’s feelings of effective self-regulated learning and encouraging them to complete academic tasks. Furthermore, the present study considered not only outward behavioral factors but also the underlying cognitive and affective aspects of delaying behavior that underpin the effects of self-regulated learning efficacy and autonomy support of mothers and teachers on academic procrastination.