Academic Resilience and Motivation as Predictors of Academic Engagement Among Rural and Urban High School Students in Ghana

Academic resilience and motivation are two key positive psychological constructs that have the capacity to influence learners’ engagement even in difficult conditions. Surprisingly, research investigating these relational constructs is limited in Ghana. The study examined the influence of academic r...

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Main Authors: Mustapha Amoadu, John Elvis Hagan, Paul Obeng, Edmond Kwesi Agormedah, Medina Srem-Sai, Thomas Schack
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Youth
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/5/1/11
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author Mustapha Amoadu
John Elvis Hagan
Paul Obeng
Edmond Kwesi Agormedah
Medina Srem-Sai
Thomas Schack
author_facet Mustapha Amoadu
John Elvis Hagan
Paul Obeng
Edmond Kwesi Agormedah
Medina Srem-Sai
Thomas Schack
author_sort Mustapha Amoadu
collection DOAJ
description Academic resilience and motivation are two key positive psychological constructs that have the capacity to influence learners’ engagement even in difficult conditions. Surprisingly, research investigating these relational constructs is limited in Ghana. The study examined the influence of academic resilience and motivation on engagement, highlighting rural–urban variations among senior high school students. This cross-sectional survey involved 190 senior high school students in Ghana, employing stratified sampling. Academic resilience, motivation, and engagement were assessed using the academic resilience scale (ARS-30), the motivated strategies for learning questionnaire (MSLQ), and the university student engagement inventory (USEI). Data were analysed using descriptive, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses. An independent <i>t</i>-test was also conducted to compare the study variables between rural and urban students, utilising IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. The correlational analysis revealed that academic resilience positively correlates with engagement and motivation. A regression model indicated that socio-demographic factors have a minimal impact on academic engagement, while academic resilience and motivation significantly predict it. No significant differences were found between urban and rural students regarding academic engagement, motivation, or resilience. Educators and policymakers are urged to implement strategies, including social–emotional learning and mentorship programmes, to support and cultivate academic resilience, motivation, and engagement among students. Future studies could investigate the relationship between academic, motivational intensity, and learners’ academic achievement across a larger sample.
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spelling doaj-art-d5cd87b0fb8849448a734ffa2801fc242025-08-20T01:49:57ZengMDPI AGYouth2673-995X2025-01-01511110.3390/youth5010011Academic Resilience and Motivation as Predictors of Academic Engagement Among Rural and Urban High School Students in GhanaMustapha Amoadu0John Elvis Hagan1Paul Obeng2Edmond Kwesi Agormedah3Medina Srem-Sai4Thomas Schack5Biomedical and Clinical Research Centre, University of Cape Coast, PMB, Cape Coast CC 3321, GhanaDepartment of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, PMB, Cape Coast TF 0494, GhanaDepartment of Public Health and Health Promotion, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen AB10 7QB, UKDepartment of Business and Social Sciences Education, University of Cape Coast, PMB, Cape Coast CC 3321, GhanaDepartment of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Sports, University of Education, Winneba P.O. Box 25, GhanaNeurocognition and Action-Biomechanics-Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, Bielefeld University, Postfach 10 01 31, 33501 Bielefeld, GermanyAcademic resilience and motivation are two key positive psychological constructs that have the capacity to influence learners’ engagement even in difficult conditions. Surprisingly, research investigating these relational constructs is limited in Ghana. The study examined the influence of academic resilience and motivation on engagement, highlighting rural–urban variations among senior high school students. This cross-sectional survey involved 190 senior high school students in Ghana, employing stratified sampling. Academic resilience, motivation, and engagement were assessed using the academic resilience scale (ARS-30), the motivated strategies for learning questionnaire (MSLQ), and the university student engagement inventory (USEI). Data were analysed using descriptive, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses. An independent <i>t</i>-test was also conducted to compare the study variables between rural and urban students, utilising IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. The correlational analysis revealed that academic resilience positively correlates with engagement and motivation. A regression model indicated that socio-demographic factors have a minimal impact on academic engagement, while academic resilience and motivation significantly predict it. No significant differences were found between urban and rural students regarding academic engagement, motivation, or resilience. Educators and policymakers are urged to implement strategies, including social–emotional learning and mentorship programmes, to support and cultivate academic resilience, motivation, and engagement among students. Future studies could investigate the relationship between academic, motivational intensity, and learners’ academic achievement across a larger sample.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/5/1/11academic resilienceacademic motivationacademic engagementhigh school studentsGhana
spellingShingle Mustapha Amoadu
John Elvis Hagan
Paul Obeng
Edmond Kwesi Agormedah
Medina Srem-Sai
Thomas Schack
Academic Resilience and Motivation as Predictors of Academic Engagement Among Rural and Urban High School Students in Ghana
Youth
academic resilience
academic motivation
academic engagement
high school students
Ghana
title Academic Resilience and Motivation as Predictors of Academic Engagement Among Rural and Urban High School Students in Ghana
title_full Academic Resilience and Motivation as Predictors of Academic Engagement Among Rural and Urban High School Students in Ghana
title_fullStr Academic Resilience and Motivation as Predictors of Academic Engagement Among Rural and Urban High School Students in Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Academic Resilience and Motivation as Predictors of Academic Engagement Among Rural and Urban High School Students in Ghana
title_short Academic Resilience and Motivation as Predictors of Academic Engagement Among Rural and Urban High School Students in Ghana
title_sort academic resilience and motivation as predictors of academic engagement among rural and urban high school students in ghana
topic academic resilience
academic motivation
academic engagement
high school students
Ghana
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/5/1/11
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