Adolescents' Achievement Beliefs and Behaviors in Sport, Music, and Reading Domains

Abstract

Based on expectancy-value theory, youths' competence and value beliefs are significant correlates of achievement behaviors in multiple domains. Gender and activity stereotypes and parental influence represent social-contextual factors. The purposes of this study were to examine gender and activity group differences in adolescents' achievement beliefs and behaviors, and those of their parents, in reading, sport, and music. Adolescents (N = 313) completed measures assessing domain-specific expectancy-value constructs. First, gender by domain RM ANOVAs revealed no gender differences on sport variables, boys reported higher music participation and parental influence, and girls scored higher on reading constructs. Second, group by domain RM ANOVAs revealed that sport-only participants reported higher sport and lower music beliefs and behaviors, and music-only participants reported the opposite pattern. Results indicate that domain-specific gender stereotypes may not emerge with a selective sample and activity group should be considered in studies of adolescents' achievement motivation in multiple domains.