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The Relationship Between Parents' Enjoyment of Parenting and Children's School Motivation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2016

Andrew J. Martin
Andrew J. Martin*
Affiliation:
Self-concept Enhancement and Learning Facilitation (SELF) Research Centre, University of Western Sydney
*
SELF Research Centre, Bankstown Campus, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, Australia. Email: a.martin@uws.edu.au
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Abstract

This paper examines parents' perceptions of their child's school-related motivation and their enjoyment of parenting. Drawing on Martins (2003a) Student Motivation Wheel, 10 facets of motivation were explored among a sample of 481 parents. These facets comprised six motivation boosters (self-belief, value of schooling, learning/mastery focus, planning, study management, persistence), two motivation mufflers (anxiety, failure avoidance), and two motivation guzzlers (uncertain control, self-sabotage/self-handicapping). Parents rated girls significantly higher than boys in value of schooling, learning focus, planning, and study management. Of the boosters, children's persistence was the strongest predictor of respondents' enjoyment of parenting. Of the mufflers, failure avoidance was the strongest (negative) predictor of parenting satisfaction. In terms of guzzlers, uncertain control was the strongest (negative) predictor of respondents' enjoyment of parenting. Compared with mothers' enjoyment of parenting, fathers' satisfaction in their role was more strongly related to their children's school-related motivation.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , December 2003 , pp. 115 - 132
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

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