Reexamining the Longitudinal Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Interest: Differences Across Domains and Student Characteristics

• In Event: How Beliefs About Self Relate to Motivation and Cognition

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the temporal relations between self-efficacy and interest in math and English over 5 years from Grade 7 to 11 and their roles in predicting achievement at Grade 12 in each subject. Also, we explored potential moderating effects of students’ gender, initial achievement, and perceptions of importance. Analysis of a nationally representative panel dataset in Korea through autoregressive cross-lagged modeling demonstrated reciprocal relationships between self-efficacy and interest in both subjects. The causal predominance of interest over self-efficacy was observed only in math. Also, while both self-efficacy and interest predicted final achievement in English, only interest predicted that in math, attesting to the relative importance of interest in math. Multiple-group analyses did not reveal any significant moderations.

Authors

• Hyun Ji Lee, The Ohio State University

• Yoonah Park, bMRI/Korea University

• Mimi Bong, Korea University