Achievement Motivation in Adolescence: Associations with Gender, Grade, Family Structure, and Urban–Rural Background in a Chinese Sample

Abstract

Achievement motivation, comprising the dual dimensions of hope for success (HS) and fear of failure (FF), plays a vital role in students’ academic development. Although widely studied, little research has examined how these motivational tendencies vary across demographic groups within the context of China’ s competitive secondary education system. This cross-sectional study surveyed 968 middle school students in Shandong Province using the Chinese Achievement Motivation Scale. Independent-samples t-tests and ANOVA were conducted to examine differences by gender, grade level, family structure, and urban–rural background. Results showed that male students reported significantly higher overall motivation and HS, while female students exhibited greater FF. Grade 9 students demonstrated a small but significant increase in FF, likely reflecting the psychological pressure of high-stakes examinations. Urban students scored higher on HS and lower on FF than their rural peers. No significant differences were found based on family structure. These findings underscore the role of intersecting demographic factors in shaping adolescent achievement motivation and provide evidence to guide more targeted, equity-informed educational interventions.