Browsing by Author "Väyrynen, Vadelma"

Aims. The aim of this study was to examine what kinds of achievement goal orientation profiles can be identified among general upper secondary school students and how adolescents with different motivational strivings perceive their mothers’ parenting style. Achievement goal orientations refer to relatively stable tendencies to favor certain goals and outcomes in learning and achievement related situations, which are formed through individuals’ own experiences. It is important to study the connection between these phenomena, as it provides better understanding regarding parents’ role in adolescents’ learning and achievement. Methods. The data (N=1344) were collected from all classes of first-year students in general upper secondary schools in one city in Eastern Finland. The participants completed self-report questionnaires, which included measures regarding achievement goal orientations and relationship with mother among other things. By utilizing a person-centered approach and latent class clustering analysis (LCCA), groups of students with different motivational profiles were identified. The group differences in perceptions of mother’s parenting style were further analyzed by using ANOVA. Results and conclusions. Five groups with different achievement goal orientation profiles were identified. The groups were named as indifferent (32%), avoidance-oriented (26%), success-oriented (17%), performance-avoidance-oriented (15%) and mastery-oriented (11%). Mastery-oriented, success-oriented and indifferent students perceived that their mothers showed higher level of maternal affection and were more involved in their lives compared to performance-avoidance- and avoidance-oriented students. Success- and performance-avoidance-oriented students perceived their mothers’ psychological control to be higher than students in the other groups. Avoidance-oriented students perceived their mothers’ behavioral control to be lower than students in the other groups. According to the results, there are differences in how adolescents with different orientations towards studying perceive their mother’s parenting style. This study deepens the understanding regarding the phenomena relating to achievement goal orientations and shows the meaning of parenting in terms of adolescents’ learning and achievement.