Analysis of the Structural Relationship Between Student and School Characteristics Variables Affecting Elementary School Students' Intrinsic Regulatory Motivation

Objectives This study aimed to examine multilevel structural relationships between student and school characteristic variables affecting intrinsic regulatory motivation in sixth-grade elementary school students. At the student level, teacher-student relationships and peer relationships were set as influencing factors, while at the school level, teacher enthusiasm and teacher pressure for achievement were set as influencing factors, with academic self-concept as a mediator. Methods The second-year data from the Korea Education Longitudinal Study 2013 (6th grade of elementary school) was analyzed using multi-level path analysis, which takes into account the hierarchical attributes of students and schools. To verify the goodness-of-fit of the research model, the partially-saturated model method was applied, and the mediating effects of academic self-concept were tested using a Monte Carlo 95% confidence interval. Results At the student level, students' academic self-concept increased with better teacher-student and peer relationships, and higher academic self-concept led to higher levels of intrinsic regulatory motivation. At the school level, higher teacher enthusiasm was associated with higher overall academic self-concept among students, and higher academic self-concept positively influenced intrinsic regulatory motivation. The results of the mediation analysis showed that at the student level, academic self-concept partially mediated the relationships between teacher-student relationships and peer relationships and classroom attitudes, while at the school level, academic self-concept played a fully mediating role in the influence of teacher enthusiasm on intrinsic regulatory motivation. Conclusions Based on the analysis results of this study, specific strategies for enhancing intrinsic regulatory motivation in elementary school students were discussed in detail.