The Pattern of structural relationships of academic motivation based on Psychological needs by the role of academic procrastination intervening in undergraduate students

Motivation is one of the most popular concepts and the most important factors for students’ success in higher education considered by scientists. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of structural relationships of academic motivation based on psychological needs mediated by the role of academic procrastination intervening in undergraduate students.

This is a correlation study via structural equation modeling and statistical population consisted of all undergraduate students studying at Mohaghegh Ardabili University in the first semester of the 2020academic year. 405 of these individuals were selected by Multi-stage cluster random sampling and individually answered the questionnaires of academic motivation, academic procrastination and psychological needs. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient tests with SPSS and structural equation modeling using Lisrel .

The results showed that academic motivation with the total score of psychological needs (r = 0.35), the components of the need for competence (r = 0.18), the need for autonomy (r = 0.34) and the need for dependence (r =0.34)  has positive relationship and   with the total score of academic procrastination (r = -0.24) and study components for the test (r = -0.19), homework readiness (r = -0.21) and readiness Article (r = -0.12) has negative correlation. Also, academic procrastination with the total score of psychological needs (r = -0.18) and the components of the need for competence (r = -0.14), the need for autonomy (r = -0.10) and the need for dependence (r =-0.23) has negative relationship.Model fit indices also confirmed the effect of psychological needs on academic motivation mediated by academic procrastination.

Given the indirect role of basic psychological needs on academic motivation, academic procrastination seems to moderate the relationship between basic psychological needs and academic motivation.