The Stability of Mastery Motivation and its Relationship with Motor Competence Influenced by Gender in Preschoolers

Mastery motivation (intrinsic drives to explore and master one’s environment) is a key aspect of development in children.

The Influence of Mastery Motivation Towards Social-Emotional Competence in Early Childhood

Establishing interpersonal relationships is an important task of early childhood. Harmonious interpersonal relationships will be achieved well if children have social-emotional competence, namely the ability to manage their own condition in order to maintain positive relationships with others. This study aims to determine the influence of mastery motivation towards social-emotional competence. This type of research is quantitative. The total sample was 417 children aged 5-6 years. Collecting data using a questionnaire filled out by teachers and parents. Data analysis using linear regression method with t-test obtained t test results of 3.776 and sig of 0.000. Based on these results, it can be concluded that there is an influence of mastery motivation towards social-emotional competence. The magnitude of the influence of mastery motivation was 3.3%. Taking into account the effect of mastery motivation on low social-emotional competence, it is hoped that teachers and parents can foster mastery motivation so that social-emotional competence can be achieved more optimally.

Success in Mathematics and Academic Wellbeing in Primary-School Students

The main aim of this study was to analyse possible differences in academic wellbeing on the basis of prior academic achievement in mathematics. We conceptualised wellbeing as a multidimensional construct covering both negative indicators, namely, anxiety and negative feelings, and positive indicators, namely, perceived competence, perceived utility, and mastery motivation. Success in mathematics is expected to be associated with better academic wellbeing. The sample consisted of 897 students from the fifth and sixth years of primary school (50.2% boys and 49.8% girls). Results suggested that success in mathematics is linked to a student’s academic wellbeing, in such a way that perceived competence in the subject, perception of usefulness of mathematical content, and mastery motivation was higher in students with better previous performance. Anxiety and negative feelings were also lower when success in mathematics increased. Considering the particular anxiety–self-efficacy interaction suggested by previous research, we concluded that a good way to change negative academic wellbeing would be to increase successful experiences to foster perceived competence, especially in students with high academic anxiety.

Relationship between Mastery Motivation and Sensory Processing Difficulties in South Korean Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

The aim of this study was to identify the correlation between mastery motivation and sensory processing difficulties among South Korean children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Ninety-nine children aged 4–7 years with DCD participated. The Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire was used to assess the mastery motivation of the children, and the Short Sensory Profile was used to assess the children’s sensory processing difficulties. All subjects showed lower mastery motivation and definite differences in sensory processing. Mastery motivation was significantly correlated with sensory processing (r=−0.34, p=0.01). Mastery motivation predicted 41.1% of the sensory processing. In particular, a negative reaction to failure in mastery situations scale (p<0.01) and general competence compared to peers scale (p<0.05) in mastery motivation were significant predictors. This study indicated that sensory processing difficulties and lack of mastery motivation were identified among children with DCD in South Korea. And the children with high mastery motivation show less difficulty in sensory processing. It is suggested to develop possible solution for higher mastery motivation to improve sensory processing of the children with DCD in South Korea.