Relationship Between Parental Support and Academic Avoidance: The Mediating Role of Achievement Goals

The aim of the study was to examine the mediating role of achievement goals (mastery approach goal, mastery avoidance goal, performance approach goal and performance avoidance goal) in relationship between parental support and academic avoidance. Method of this research was descriptive and correlation type. Statistical population consist of all tenth grade Tehran high school and art school students. Participants consisted of 661 that were selected among tenth grade Tehran high school and art school students using multi-stage cluster random sampling. Instrument using in this research were parent support scale (Fall and Roberts), achievement goals scale (Elliot and McGregor) and academic avoidance scale (khormaei). Data analyzed with using structural equation modeling method and AMOS software. The results showed that parental support effect on achievement goals was significantly positive. Also, parental support effect on academic avoidance (academic aversion & truancy) was significantly negative. Moreover, parental support with mediating mastery approach goal, mastery avoidance goal and performance approach goal could predict student academic avoidance indirectly. The total result of the study showed that increasing parental support in students can decrease their academic avoidance, both directly and indirectly via achievement goals (mastery approach goal, mastery avoidance goal, performance approach goal) in them.