Autonomy, Belongingness, and Engagement in School As Contributors to Adolescent Psychological Well-being

Overview

Journal J Youth Adolesc

Specialties Pediatrics
Psychology
Social Sciences

Date 2009 Jul 29

PMID 19636787

Citations 36

Authors

Mark J Van Ryzin

Amy A Gravely

Cary J Roseth

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Self-determination theory emphasizes the importance of school-based autonomy and belongingness to academic achievement and psychological adjustment, and the theory posits a model in which engagement in school mediates the influence of autonomy and belongingness on these outcomes. To date, this model has only been evaluated on academic outcomes. Utilizing short-term longitudinal data (5-month timeframe) from a set of secondary schools in the rural Midwest (N = 283, M age = 15.3, 51.9% male, 86.2% White), we extend the model to include a measure of positive adjustment (i.e., hope). We also find a direct link between peer-related belongingness (i.e., peer support) and positive adjustment that is not mediated by engagement in school. A reciprocal relationship between academic autonomy, teacher-related belongingness (i.e., teacher support) and engagement in learning is supported, but this reciprocal relationship does not extend to peer-related belongingness. The implications of these findings for secondary schools are discussed.

Citing Articles

The Reciprocal Effects of Prosociality, Peer Support and Psychological Well-Being in Adolescence: A Four-Wave Longitudinal Study.

Affuso G, Picone N, De Angelis G, Dragone M, Esposito C, Pannone M Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025; 21(12.

PMID: 39767470 PMC: 11675202. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21121630.

Effect of Growth Mindset on Mathematics Achievement Among Chinese Junior High School Students: The Mediating Roles of Academic Buoyancy and Adaptability.

Chen M, Mok I, Cao Y, Wijaya T, Ning Y Behav Sci (Basel). 2025; 14(12.

PMID: 39767275 PMC: 11673160. DOI: 10.3390/bs14121134.

The Effect of Screen Time and Positive School Factors in the Pathway to Child and Youth Mental Health Outcomes.

Tsujimoto K, Anagnostou E, Birken C, Charach A, Cost K, Kelley E Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2024; 53(1):29-42.

PMID: 39387981 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-024-01252-3.

Good learning environment of medical schools is an independent predictor for medical students' study engagement.

Huang R, Li Y, Gong M, Zhang W, Xian S, Tang J Front Med (Lausanne). 2024; 11:1299805.

PMID: 39144657 PMC: 11322046. DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1299805.

Children and adolescents rectify unequal allocations of leadership duties in the classroom.

Killen M, Burkholder A, Brey E, Cooper D, Pauker K Child Dev. 2024; 95(6):1950-1966.

PMID: 38922931 PMC: 11579645. DOI: 10.1111/cdev.14123.

References

Hawkins J, Catalano R . Broadening the vision of education: schools as health promoting environments. J Sch Health. 1990; 60(4):178-81. DOI: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1990.tb05433.x. View

Magaletta P, Oliver J . The hope construct, will, and ways: their relations with self-efficacy, optimism, and general well-being. J Clin Psychol. 1999; 55(5):539-51. DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4679(199905)55:5<539::aid-jclp2>3.0.co;2-g. View

Kaplan , Maehr . Achievement Goals and Student Well-Being. Contemp Educ Psychol. 1999; 24(4):330-358. DOI: 10.1006/ceps.1999.0993. View

Berndt T, Keefe K . Friends' influence of adolescents' adjustment to school. Child Dev. 1995; 66(5):1312-29. View

Dubow E, Tisak J, Causey D, Hryshko A, Reid G . A two-year longitudinal study of stressful life events, social support, and social problem-solving skills: contributions to children's behavioral and academic adjustment. Child Dev. 1991; 62(3):583-99. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1991.tb01554.x. View

Roeser R, Eccles J, Sameroff A . Academic and emotional functioning in early adolescence: longitudinal relations, patterns, and prediction by experience in middle school. Dev Psychopathol. 1998; 10(2):321-52. DOI: 10.1017/s0954579498001631. View

Lakey B, Heller K . Social support from a friend, perceived support, and social problem solving. Am J Community Psychol. 1988; 16(6):811-24. DOI: 10.1007/BF00930894. View

Ryan R, Connell J . Perceived locus of causality and internalization: examining reasons for acting in two domains. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1989; 57(5):749-61. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.57.5.749. View

Cohen S, Wills T . Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychol Bull. 1985; 98(2):310-57. View

10.

Cauce A . Social networks and social competence: exploring the effects of early adolescent friendships. Am J Community Psychol. 1986; 14(6):607-28. DOI: 10.1007/BF00931339. View

11.

Grolnick W, Ryan R . Autonomy in children's learning: an experimental and individual difference investigation. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1987; 52(5):890-8. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.52.5.890. View

12.

Dakof G, Taylor S . Victims' perceptions of social support: what is helpful from whom?. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1990; 58(1):80-9. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.58.1.80. View

13.

Wethington E, Kessler R . Perceived support, received support, and adjustment to stressful life events. J Health Soc Behav. 1986; 27(1):78-89. View

14.

Parker J, Asher S . Peer relations and later personal adjustment: are low-accepted children at risk?. Psychol Bull. 1987; 102(3):357-89. DOI: 10.1037//0033-2909.102.3.357. View

15.

Bentler P . Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychol Bull. 1990; 107(2):238-46. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.107.2.238. View

16.

Wentzel K, Caldwell K . Friendships, peer acceptance, and group membership: relations to academic achievement in middle school. Child Dev. 1998; 68(6):1198-209. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1997.tb01994.x. View

17.

Cole D . Utility of confirmatory factor analysis in test validation research. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1987; 55(4):584-594. DOI: 10.1037/0022-006X.55.4.584. View

18.

Midgley C, Feldlaufer H, Eccles J . Student/teacher relations and attitudes toward mathematics before and after the transition to junior high school. Child Dev. 1989; 60(4):981-92. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1989.tb03529.x. View

19.

Snyder C, Harris C, ANDERSON J, Holleran S, Irving L, Sigmon S . The will and the ways: development and validation of an individual-differences measure of hope. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991; 60(4):570-85. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.60.4.570. View

20.

Buhrmester D . Intimacy of friendship, interpersonal competence, and adjustment during preadolescence and adolescence. Child Dev. 1990; 61(4):1101-11. View