Longitudinal Associations Between Achievement Goals and Cooperative and Competitive Attitudes: Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model

• In Event: Mindsets and Motivation Across Contexts: Developmental and Disciplinary Perspectives on Self-Beliefs and Learning

Abstract

This study examined how students’ achievement goals and social interdependence attitudes co-develop and predict stress and achievement. Using Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models and longitudinal data from two nationally representative Korean samples (N=6,908 and N=7,324), we found that competitive attitudes consistently predicted performance-approach and avoidance goals, which in turn predicted higher academic stress. Mastery goals predicted higher achievement and lower stress, though occasionally co-occurred with competitive attitudes. Cooperative attitudes were linked to lower stress but sometimes lower achievement. The observed motivational tradeoff calls for future research to identify conditions under which cooperation can be more performance-enhancing and competition more psychologically sustainable. These findings underscore the theoretical importance of moving beyond individual goals to consider students’ underlying social interdependence attitudes.

Authors

• You-kyung Lee, Sookmyung Women's University

• Eunjin Seo, Texas State University

• Yoonsun Shin, Sookmyung Women's University