Academic Engagement and Disaffection in Social Work Undergraduates From Spain: The Role of Teaching Styles and Student Motivation

ABSTRACTThis cross-sectional study aims to respond three research questions: (1) Do perceived teaching styles predict students’ motivation, academic engagement, and disaffection? (2) Does students’ motivation predict engagement and disaffection? (3) Does motivation mediate the influence of teaching styles in students’ engagement and disaffection? A convenience sample of 409 social work undergraduates from Spain (80.9% females) completed a questionnaire with these constructs. Structural equation modeling analyses showed that perceived teaching styles directly only predicted students’ autonomous and controlled motivation. These two modalities of motivation predicted engagement and disaffection and mediated the influence of teaching styles on engagement and disaffection. These findings highlight the need for interventions enhancing teachers’ autonomy-support and structure and reducing control. Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Data availability statementData used in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.Supplementary materialSupplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2023.2248225Additional informationFundingThe authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, or publication of this article.Notes on contributorsXoán Lombardero PosadaXoán Lombardero Posada is professor in the faculty of education and social work at the University of Vigo.Evelia Murcia ÁlvarezEvelia Murcia Álvarez is professor in the faculty of education and social work at the University of Vigo.Francisco X. Aguiar FernándezFrancisco X. Aguiar Fernández is vice-dean and professor in the faculty of education and social work at the University of Vigo.Ana B. Méndez FernándezAna B. Méndez Fernández is professor in the faculty of education and social work at the University of Vigo.Antonio González FernándezAntonio González Fernández is professor in the faculty of education and social work at the University of Vigo.