A Causal Explanation of Academic Engagement based on Social Cognition: The Mediating Role of Academic and Social Positive Emotions

The aim of this study was to explain academic engagement based on social cognition. In this regard, the mediating role of academic and social positive emotions were investigated. In this study a correlational research method was used. Five hundred and sixty six (278 males , 288 females) students were selected from Shiraz University by multistage random cluster sampling. The participants completed the Social Cognition Questionnaire (Nejati, Kamari, & Jafari, in press), the Academic Hope Scale (Khormaei, & Kamari, 2017), the Admiration Scale (Schindler, & et al, 2013), and the Academic Engagement Inventory (Salmela-Aro, & Upadyaya, 2012). To analyze the data, the structural equation modeling was used. The results indicated that social cognition had direct effects on academic hope (β= 0.46), admiration (β= 0.37), and academic engagement (β= 0.49). The academic hope had a direct effect on academic engagement (β= 0.24). The social cognition related to academic engagement (β= 0/11) indirectly through academic positive emotion (academic hope). In general, the results indicated that the academic positive emotion (academic hope) mediated the association between social cognition and academic engagement. These findings supported empirically the control-value theory of achievement emotions among Iranian students.