The association between online class-related enjoyment and academic achievement of college students: a multi-chain mediating model

BACKGROUND: Based on the control-value theory of achievement emotion and self-determination motivation theory, this study attempted to examine the multi-chain mediating relationships among online class-related enjoyment, school motivation, learning engagement and academic achievement. METHODS: This is an empirical study based on cross-sectional data. Online class-related enjoyment is the independent variable, academic achievement is the dependent variable, and school motivation and learning engagement are the mediating variables. Sample data were collected from 1294 Chinese college students, and SPSS macro program PROCESS 3.3 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The present study confirmed that students’ online class-related enjoyment has a significant positive correlation with academic achievement. And there is a positive correlation between college students’ school motivation with learning engagement and college students’ learning engagement with academic achievement. In addition, online class-related enjoyment affects academic achievement through the chain mediating effect of school motivation and learning engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that online class-related enjoyment has a significant impact on academic achievement. Both of these factors should be considered when determining the optimal multi-chain mediating model for Online Class-related Enjoyment and Academic Achievement of college students.