Research Article

Parental Involvement in Math Homework: Mediating Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

Volume: 13 Number: 3 May 4, 2026

Parental Involvement in Math Homework: Mediating Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

Abstract

Parental involvement in homework plays a critical role in shaping students’ motivational resources and academic outcomes, yet the mechanisms underlying these relationships remain insufficiently understood. Addressing this gap, the present study examined the mediating roles of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and homework self-efficacy in the relationship between parental homework involvement (support and control) and students’ homework completion and academic achievement. Data were collected from 629 middle and high school students using validated self-report instruments, including the Perceived Parental Homework Involvement Scale, the Students’ Motivation for Homework Scale, and the Mathematics Homework Self-Efficacy Scale. Homework completion was assessed with a single-item measure, and academic achievement was indexed using students’ mathematics report card grades. Structural equation modelling was employed to test the hypothesized mediation model, and multi-group analyses were conducted to examine the moderating effect of school level. The results indicated that perceived parental support was positively associated with intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy, whereas perceived parental control was primarily related to extrinsic motivation. Parental support indirectly predicted both homework completion and academic achievement through motivational variables, with self-efficacy emerging as the strongest predictor of academic outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of need-supportive parental involvement in fostering students’ motivational processes and academic success.

Keywords

Parental homework involvement, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, mathematics achievement

Supporting Institution

İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University

Project Number

2024-BAP-400-012

Ethical Statement

This study received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, under the document number 2024/04.

References

  1. Altschul, I. (2011). Parental involvement and the academic achievement of Mexican American youths: What kinds of involvement in youths' education matter most? Social Work Research, 35(3), 159-170. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/35.3.159
  2. Avcı, S. & Özgenel, M. (2024a). Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of Homework Management, Teacher and Parent Involvement Scales for middle schoolers in Turkey. International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies, 11(2), 179-200.https://dx.doi.org/10.52380/ijpes.2024.11.2.1357
  3. Avcı, S.& Özgenel, M. (2024b). Exploring the psychometric properties of Mathematics Homework Scales in the Turkish Educational context. International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies, 11(4), 309-330. https://dx.doi.org/10.52380/ijpes.2024.11.4.1358
  4. Avcı, S., Özgenel, M., & Avcu, A. (2025). Individual and environmental factors shaping homework behavior: A three‐level investigation with hierarchical linear modeling. Psychology in the Schools, 62(9), 3654-3673. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.23567
  5. Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V. S. Ramachaudran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human behavior (Vol. 4, pp. 71-81). Academic Press.
  6. Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise ofcontrol. Freeman.
  7. Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory: An agentic perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.1
  8. Bandura, A. (2006). Guide for constructing self-efficacy scales. Self-Efficacy Beliefs of Adolescents, 5(1), 307-337. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-60752-750-320251002
  9. Bempechat, J., & Shernoff, D. J. (2012). Parental influences on achievement motivation and student engagement. In S. L. Christenson, A. L. Reschly, & C. Wylie (Eds.), Handbook of research on student engagement (pp. 315-342). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2018-7_15
  10. Bénabou, R., & Tirole, J. (2003). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The Review of Economic Studies, 70(3), 489-520. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-937X.00253
APA
Özgenel, M., Avcı, S., Avcu, A., Kayapinar, S., Paşaoğlu, S., Bıyık, R., & Özdemir, S. (2026). Parental Involvement in Math Homework: Mediating Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation. Participatory Educational Research, 13(3), 142-161. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.38.13.3
AMA
1.Özgenel M, Avcı S, Avcu A, et al. Parental Involvement in Math Homework: Mediating Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation. PER. 2026;13(3):142-161. doi:10.17275/per.26.38.13.3
Chicago
Özgenel, Mustafa, Süleyman Avcı, Akif Avcu, et al. 2026. “Parental Involvement in Math Homework: Mediating Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation”. Participatory Educational Research 13 (3): 142-61. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.38.13.3.
EndNote
Özgenel M, Avcı S, Avcu A, Kayapinar S, Paşaoğlu S, Bıyık R, Özdemir S (May 1, 2026) Parental Involvement in Math Homework: Mediating Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation. Participatory Educational Research 13 3 142–161.
IEEE
[1]M. Özgenel et al., “Parental Involvement in Math Homework: Mediating Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation”, PER, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 142–161, May 2026, doi: 10.17275/per.26.38.13.3.
ISNAD
Özgenel, Mustafa - Avcı, Süleyman - Avcu, Akif - Kayapinar, Soner - Paşaoğlu, Serdar - Bıyık, Reha - Özdemir, Sevgi. “Parental Involvement in Math Homework: Mediating Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation”. Participatory Educational Research 13/3 (May 1, 2026): 142-161. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.38.13.3.
JAMA
1.Özgenel M, Avcı S, Avcu A, Kayapinar S, Paşaoğlu S, Bıyık R, Özdemir S. Parental Involvement in Math Homework: Mediating Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation. PER. 2026;13:142–161.
MLA
Özgenel, Mustafa, et al. “Parental Involvement in Math Homework: Mediating Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation”. Participatory Educational Research, vol. 13, no. 3, May 2026, pp. 142-61, doi:10.17275/per.26.38.13.3.
Vancouver
1.Mustafa Özgenel, Süleyman Avcı, Akif Avcu, Soner Kayapinar, Serdar Paşaoğlu, Reha Bıyık, Sevgi Özdemir. Parental Involvement in Math Homework: Mediating Roles of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation. PER. 2026 May 1;13(3):142-61. doi:10.17275/per.26.38.13.3