Effects of self-esteem and emotional security in the family system on economics motivational style

Abstract

The general objective of this quasi-experimental ex post facto research was to analyze the relationship of self-esteem and emotional security in the family system with the different academic motivational styles (intrinsic, internalized and extrinsic motivation, and demotivation) of a group of students of Science Economy courses studying E.S.O. and Bachillerato. The possible effects of interaction of self-esteem and emotional security with the educational level of the participants were taken into account. The study sample was composed of 447 students. Employing a questionnaire-based methodology, to evaluate the motivational styles of the participants the Academic Motivation Scale was used. Besides, in order to assess the self-esteem and the security in the family system of the participants, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Family Scale Security Scale were employed. As expected, a global relationship was found between self-esteem, emotional security and motivational styles, the latter being predicted by disengagement, security and self-esteem, this relationship being moderated by the educational level of the students.