The effect of psychological factors and parental education on adolescents' academic achievement

• Main Authors: Ljubica Marjanovič Umek, Gregor Sočan, Katja Bajc
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Psychologists' Association 2007-11-01
• Series: Psihološka Obzorja
• Subjects: academic achievement; adolescents; language competence; general intelligence; personality traits; parent educational background
• Online Access: http://psiholoska-obzorja.si/arhiv_clanki/2007_3/marjanovic.pdf

The aim of our research was to check the assumed path model of causal relationships between adolescent's psychological characteristics (language competence, intellectual ability, and personality dimensions), parental education, and adolescent's academic achievement. Adolescents (N = 427; among them 225 girls and 202 boys), who were attending the ninth grade of elementary school in the school year 2005/2006, and their parents participated in the study. Adolescent's academic achievement was assessed by the results of national examinations in Slovene and mathematics, teachers' marks in Slovene and mathematics, and adolescent's general school success. The results of structural equation modelling showed a good fit of the assumed path model if it included the direct effect of adolescent's psychological characteristics and parental education on adolescent's academic achievement and also the indirect effect of parental education and three personality dimensions (Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Openness/Intellect) through the adolescent's language competence and general intelligence. The fit of the adopted path model was acceptable regardless of the way in which academic achievement was assessed and regardless of the sex of the participants. The most important predictors of the academic achievement were language competence, general intelligence, and personality dimensions Conscientiousness and Openness/Intellect. With the assumed path model of casual relationships we could explain between 53% and 63% of differences in adolescents' academic achievement.