Coping as a mediator of the relationships between trait intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and approaches to studying during academic exam preparation

This study investigated how students’ approaches to studying during exam preparation are influenced by their trait intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and situational coping strategies. A sample of 317 college students completed the approaches and study skills inventory for students (ASSIST), the revised COPE (R-COPE), and the work preference inventory (WPI), one week before exams. Structural equation modeling indicated that intrinsic motivation fosters deep and strategic approaches to studying directly and indirectly, through the mediation of approach coping, and prevents surface approach to studying directly and indirectly, through the mediation of avoidance coping. Moreover, the modeling indicated that extrinsic motivation fosters surface approach to studying directly and indirectly, through the mediation of avoidance coping. The implications of these findings are outlined.