Predicting the achievement emotions of elementary and middle school students in online learning based on control-value theory

IntroductionAchievement emotions have a profound impact on students' academic achievements and learning strategies, especially in online learning context where students may face great challenges in maintaining positive emotions due to physical separation and social isolation. While most studies...

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Main Authors: Yan Yi, Lixiang Gao, Shuang Wang, Mingzhang Zuo, Heng Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1601052/full
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author Yan Yi
Lixiang Gao
Shuang Wang
Mingzhang Zuo
Heng Luo
author_facet Yan Yi
Lixiang Gao
Shuang Wang
Mingzhang Zuo
Heng Luo
author_sort Yan Yi
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionAchievement emotions have a profound impact on students' academic achievements and learning strategies, especially in online learning context where students may face great challenges in maintaining positive emotions due to physical separation and social isolation. While most studies focus on achievement emotions as predictors of academic performance, fewer have examined them as outcome variables. However, achievement emotions themselves can be seen as an important learning outcome, as experiencing positive achievement emotions is also a valuable learning goal.MethodsThis study explored key factors influencing achievement emotions among Chinese elementary and middle school students in online mathematics learning, using control-value theory as a framework. Data were collected using stratified sampling, and backward regressions were used to analyze data from 2,940 students. In addition, mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether control and value appraisals mediated the relationship between technology efficacy and achievement emotions.ResultsResults indicated that control and value appraisals were the strongest predictors of achievement emotions, positively predicting positive emotions and negatively predicting negative emotions. Notably, negative effort belief positively predicted all three negative emotions substantially, surpassing the predictive effects of control appraisal. This study also found that technology efficacy positively predicted all positive emotions and negatively predicted anxiety. Regarding demographic factors, grade level and school tier significantly influenced some achievement emotions, but gender was not a significant predictor. In addition, mediation analyses showed that control and value appraisals partially mediated the effects of technology efficacy on both positive and negative achievement emotions.ConclusionThis study emphasizes the need to optimize online learning by enhancing students' control and value appraisals, addressing negative effort beliefs. Special attention should be given to students in disadvantaged schools and boys in all schools during online mathematics learning.
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spelling doaj-art-88be918c03664cb38ef564ee8ba60d062025-08-20T03:31:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-07-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.16010521601052Predicting the achievement emotions of elementary and middle school students in online learning based on control-value theoryYan Yi0Lixiang Gao1Shuang Wang2Mingzhang Zuo3Heng Luo4Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, ChinaMunich Center of the Learning Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, GermanyFaculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, ChinaFaculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, ChinaFaculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, ChinaIntroductionAchievement emotions have a profound impact on students' academic achievements and learning strategies, especially in online learning context where students may face great challenges in maintaining positive emotions due to physical separation and social isolation. While most studies focus on achievement emotions as predictors of academic performance, fewer have examined them as outcome variables. However, achievement emotions themselves can be seen as an important learning outcome, as experiencing positive achievement emotions is also a valuable learning goal.MethodsThis study explored key factors influencing achievement emotions among Chinese elementary and middle school students in online mathematics learning, using control-value theory as a framework. Data were collected using stratified sampling, and backward regressions were used to analyze data from 2,940 students. In addition, mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether control and value appraisals mediated the relationship between technology efficacy and achievement emotions.ResultsResults indicated that control and value appraisals were the strongest predictors of achievement emotions, positively predicting positive emotions and negatively predicting negative emotions. Notably, negative effort belief positively predicted all three negative emotions substantially, surpassing the predictive effects of control appraisal. This study also found that technology efficacy positively predicted all positive emotions and negatively predicted anxiety. Regarding demographic factors, grade level and school tier significantly influenced some achievement emotions, but gender was not a significant predictor. In addition, mediation analyses showed that control and value appraisals partially mediated the effects of technology efficacy on both positive and negative achievement emotions.ConclusionThis study emphasizes the need to optimize online learning by enhancing students' control and value appraisals, addressing negative effort beliefs. Special attention should be given to students in disadvantaged schools and boys in all schools during online mathematics learning.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1601052/fullonline learningachievement emotionslearning experiencecontrol-value theoryelementary and middle school students
spellingShingle Yan Yi
Lixiang Gao
Shuang Wang
Mingzhang Zuo
Heng Luo
Predicting the achievement emotions of elementary and middle school students in online learning based on control-value theory
Frontiers in Psychology
online learning
achievement emotions
learning experience
control-value theory
elementary and middle school students
title Predicting the achievement emotions of elementary and middle school students in online learning based on control-value theory
title_full Predicting the achievement emotions of elementary and middle school students in online learning based on control-value theory
title_fullStr Predicting the achievement emotions of elementary and middle school students in online learning based on control-value theory
title_full_unstemmed Predicting the achievement emotions of elementary and middle school students in online learning based on control-value theory
title_short Predicting the achievement emotions of elementary and middle school students in online learning based on control-value theory
title_sort predicting the achievement emotions of elementary and middle school students in online learning based on control value theory
topic online learning
achievement emotions
learning experience
control-value theory
elementary and middle school students
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1601052/full
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AT shuangwang predictingtheachievementemotionsofelementaryandmiddleschoolstudentsinonlinelearningbasedoncontrolvaluetheory
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