The role of motivation in the association of dispositional mindfulness with self-learning and academic achievement

IntroductionPrior research has explored relationships among dispositional mindfulness, motivation, and academic performance, the mechanisms linking these variables remain unclear. This study aims to examine whether dispositional mindfulness predicts self-learning and academic achievement in Yemeni c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aamer Aldbyani, Zaid Alhadoor, Zhang Chuanxia, Zhenwen Sheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1541128/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850125857479196672
author Aamer Aldbyani
Aamer Aldbyani
Zaid Alhadoor
Zhang Chuanxia
Zhenwen Sheng
author_facet Aamer Aldbyani
Aamer Aldbyani
Zaid Alhadoor
Zhang Chuanxia
Zhenwen Sheng
author_sort Aamer Aldbyani
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionPrior research has explored relationships among dispositional mindfulness, motivation, and academic performance, the mechanisms linking these variables remain unclear. This study aims to examine whether dispositional mindfulness predicts self-learning and academic achievement in Yemeni college students, and the potential mediating roles of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in these associations.MethodTwo hundred and eighty-three Yemeni college students (170 males; 18–26 yrs) completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Personal Learning Scale (PLS), Intrinsic/Extrinsic Motivation Scale, and semester GPAs were obtained from college records.ResultsDispositional mindfulness correlated moderately with self-learning (r = 0.49, p < 0.001) and GPA (r = 0.43, p < 0.001). Intrinsic motivation was associated with dispositional mindfulness (r = 0.41), self-learning (r = 0.42) and GPA (r = 0.50), all p < 0.001. PROCESS mediation (Model 4, 5,000 bootstraps) indicated that intrinsic motivation partially mediated the effect of dispositional mindfulness on self-learning (indirect β = 0.07, SE = 0.02, 95% CI [0.03, 0.10]) and GPA (indirect β = 0.06, SE = 0.02, 95% CI [0.02, 0.09]), accounting for ≈ 28 and 35% of the total effects, respectively. Extrinsic motivation showed small zero-order correlations but did not mediate either outcome.ConclusionHigher dispositional mindfulness predicts stronger intrinsic motivation, which in turn fosters sustained self-learning and higher academic achievement; purely extrinsic motives appear insufficient for long-term gains.
format Article
id doaj-art-dc434279cbe5452abb4386a8968ded3c
institution OA Journals
issn 1664-1078
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Psychology
spelling doaj-art-dc434279cbe5452abb4386a8968ded3c2025-08-20T02:34:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-06-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15411281541128The role of motivation in the association of dispositional mindfulness with self-learning and academic achievementAamer Aldbyani0Aamer Aldbyani1Zaid Alhadoor2Zhang Chuanxia3Zhenwen Sheng4Department of General Education, Shandong Xiehe University, Jinan, ChinaFaculty of Education, Thamar University, Dhamar, YemenFaculty of Education, Thamar University, Dhamar, YemenDepartment of General Education, Shandong Xiehe University, Jinan, ChinaDepartment of General Education, Shandong Xiehe University, Jinan, ChinaIntroductionPrior research has explored relationships among dispositional mindfulness, motivation, and academic performance, the mechanisms linking these variables remain unclear. This study aims to examine whether dispositional mindfulness predicts self-learning and academic achievement in Yemeni college students, and the potential mediating roles of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in these associations.MethodTwo hundred and eighty-three Yemeni college students (170 males; 18–26 yrs) completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Personal Learning Scale (PLS), Intrinsic/Extrinsic Motivation Scale, and semester GPAs were obtained from college records.ResultsDispositional mindfulness correlated moderately with self-learning (r = 0.49, p < 0.001) and GPA (r = 0.43, p < 0.001). Intrinsic motivation was associated with dispositional mindfulness (r = 0.41), self-learning (r = 0.42) and GPA (r = 0.50), all p < 0.001. PROCESS mediation (Model 4, 5,000 bootstraps) indicated that intrinsic motivation partially mediated the effect of dispositional mindfulness on self-learning (indirect β = 0.07, SE = 0.02, 95% CI [0.03, 0.10]) and GPA (indirect β = 0.06, SE = 0.02, 95% CI [0.02, 0.09]), accounting for ≈ 28 and 35% of the total effects, respectively. Extrinsic motivation showed small zero-order correlations but did not mediate either outcome.ConclusionHigher dispositional mindfulness predicts stronger intrinsic motivation, which in turn fosters sustained self-learning and higher academic achievement; purely extrinsic motives appear insufficient for long-term gains.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1541128/fulldispositional mindfulnessacademic achievementGPAintrinsic motivationextrinsic motivationself-learning
spellingShingle Aamer Aldbyani
Aamer Aldbyani
Zaid Alhadoor
Zhang Chuanxia
Zhenwen Sheng
The role of motivation in the association of dispositional mindfulness with self-learning and academic achievement
Frontiers in Psychology
dispositional mindfulness
academic achievement
GPA
intrinsic motivation
extrinsic motivation
self-learning
title The role of motivation in the association of dispositional mindfulness with self-learning and academic achievement
title_full The role of motivation in the association of dispositional mindfulness with self-learning and academic achievement
title_fullStr The role of motivation in the association of dispositional mindfulness with self-learning and academic achievement
title_full_unstemmed The role of motivation in the association of dispositional mindfulness with self-learning and academic achievement
title_short The role of motivation in the association of dispositional mindfulness with self-learning and academic achievement
title_sort role of motivation in the association of dispositional mindfulness with self learning and academic achievement
topic dispositional mindfulness
academic achievement
GPA
intrinsic motivation
extrinsic motivation
self-learning
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1541128/full
work_keys_str_mv AT aameraldbyani theroleofmotivationintheassociationofdispositionalmindfulnesswithselflearningandacademicachievement
AT aameraldbyani theroleofmotivationintheassociationofdispositionalmindfulnesswithselflearningandacademicachievement
AT zaidalhadoor theroleofmotivationintheassociationofdispositionalmindfulnesswithselflearningandacademicachievement
AT zhangchuanxia theroleofmotivationintheassociationofdispositionalmindfulnesswithselflearningandacademicachievement
AT zhenwensheng theroleofmotivationintheassociationofdispositionalmindfulnesswithselflearningandacademicachievement
AT aameraldbyani roleofmotivationintheassociationofdispositionalmindfulnesswithselflearningandacademicachievement
AT aameraldbyani roleofmotivationintheassociationofdispositionalmindfulnesswithselflearningandacademicachievement
AT zaidalhadoor roleofmotivationintheassociationofdispositionalmindfulnesswithselflearningandacademicachievement
AT zhangchuanxia roleofmotivationintheassociationofdispositionalmindfulnesswithselflearningandacademicachievement
AT zhenwensheng roleofmotivationintheassociationofdispositionalmindfulnesswithselflearningandacademicachievement