Social Support, Goal Pursuit, and Classroom Behavior of Adolescents: A Multilevel Study

• In Event: 34.080 - Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: 34.080-3 - Motivation in Education SIG Poster Session 1

Abstract

Although it is well known that social support at school fosters positive motivation and behavioral outcomes, few researchers have examined motivation as a mediator of the relation between support and classroom behavior or the role of multiple supports from both teachers and peers at the individual and classroom level. 3332 adolescent students from 144 classrooms completed questionnaires measuring social support (from teachers and peers) and prosocial and responsibility goal pursuit, and prosocial and responsible classroom behavior was assessed with peer nominations and teacher ratings. Goal pursuit mediated relations between support and classroom behavior, and class-level consensus of support moderated relations between individual goal pursuit and behavior. This study provides new insights about social support at school for adolescent students.

Authors

• Katherine Marie Muenks, Indiana University - Bloomington

• Daniel McNeish, University of Maryland

• Kathryn R. Wentzel, University of Maryland