Flow in high school students: a path analysis of flow, motivation, mathematics anxiety, and mathematics performance

Ya ZHOU

Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2011, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (6) : 1372-1378.

PDF(1745 KB)
PDF(1745 KB)
Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2011, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (6) : 1372-1378.

Flow in high school students: a path analysis of flow, motivation, mathematics anxiety, and mathematics performance

  • 1,Ya ZHOU1,
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Abstract

Purposes: Flow has been identified as a key construct in the field of positive psychology. The study aimed to explore the relationship between flow experience, intrinsic/extrinsic motivation, math anxiety and math performance in high school students. Methods: 296 high school students (163 male, 133 female) were recruited to complete the Inventory of Flow at Examinations (developed for the study), Mathematics Motivation Scale, and Mathematics Anxiety Scale. All instruments were administrated immediately after students have finished their monthly math exams. Results: Path analysis were utilized and revealed four significant paths: intrinsic motivation→flow experience→math performance, math anxiety→flow experience→math performance, extrinsic motivation→flow experience→math performance, extrinsic motivation→math performance. Conclusions: Both intrinsic motivation and math anxiety have no significant direct effects on math performance; only through the mediation of flow experience, intrinsic motivation and math anxiety would exhibit influence on math performance.

Key words

flow experience / intrinsic/extrinsic motivation / mathematics anxiety / path analysis

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Ya ZHOU. Flow in high school students: a path analysis of flow, motivation, mathematics anxiety, and mathematics performance[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2011, 34(6): 1372-1378
PDF(1745 KB)

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