Ranking Socio-Psychological Factors Affecting Academic Engagement in Adolescents
Keywords:
Academic engagement, socio-psychological factors, adolescents, motivation, self-efficacy, teacher–student relationshipAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to identify and rank the socio-psychological factors influencing academic engagement among adolescents, integrating qualitative thematic analysis and quantitative ranking to determine the most influential predictors of engagement.
Methods and Materials: The research adopted a sequential exploratory mixed-method design consisting of two phases. The first phase involved a qualitative literature-based content analysis conducted through NVivo 14, using thematic coding to identify socio-psychological factors influencing engagement until theoretical saturation was achieved. Eight main themes emerged: academic motivation, self-efficacy and competence beliefs, teacher–student relationship, peer relationships, family environment, emotional and behavioral regulation, school climate and belonging, and cultural-contextual influences. The second phase utilized a quantitative ranking survey with 180 adolescent participants from secondary schools in Brazil. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, applying descriptive statistics and the Friedman test to establish the priority order and significance of differences among the identified factors.
Findings: Statistical analysis revealed significant variation in the perceived importance of socio-psychological factors (χ² = 124.27, p < 0.01). Academic motivation ranked highest (Mean = 4.61), followed by teacher–student relationship (Mean = 4.52) and self-efficacy and competence beliefs (Mean = 4.47). Lower mean scores were observed for peer relationships (Mean = 4.18) and cultural and contextual influences (Mean = 4.05). The hierarchical structure demonstrated that internal psychological drivers and relational supports play the most critical roles in sustaining adolescent engagement, while contextual variables exert indirect influence.
Conclusion: The study concludes that academic engagement among adolescents is predominantly shaped by motivational, relational, and competence-based dimensions. Strengthening these socio-psychological factors through teacher support, family involvement, and self-efficacy enhancement programs can effectively foster sustained engagement and academic resilience in youth.
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