Perceived functions of studying for high school entrance examination:

Relations with academic performance and depressive mood

Abstract

This study focuses on perceived functions of studying for the high school entrance examination and investigates the effect of these functions on individual differences in academic performance and depressive mood. In the prestudy, 325 potential items concerning the functions were obtained from 93 students (35 boys, 58 girls) in the 9th grade during the high school examination period. In the primary study, 311 students (163 boys, 148 girls) in the 9th grade participated in the questionnaire survey. The result of factor analysis revealed five potential functions: improving academic behaviors, enhancing a sense of competitiveness, analyzing one’s level of understanding, considering a career goal, and enhancing a sense of time constraint. The results of the multiple regression analysis indicated that the function of the analyzing one’s level of understanding and enhancing a sense of competitiveness were positively correlated, and the considering a career goal was negatively correlated with academic performance. The results also showed that the enhancing a sense of time constraint was positively correlated and the improving academic behaviors were negatively correlated with depressive mood.