Parenting, Major Choice Motivation, and Academic Major Satisfaction Among Filipino College Students: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective

Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study examined the relationships among parenting (autonomy-supportive and controlling), major choice motivations (autonomous and controlled), and academic major satisfaction with a sample of 525 Filipino college students. Consistent with the hypotheses, the results of structural equation modeling indicated that perceived autonomy-supportive and controlling parenting were positively associated with autonomous and controlled major choice motivations, respectively. In addition, autonomous and controlled major choice motivations differentially predicted academic major satisfaction. Findings also revealed that while autonomous major choice motivation mediated the relation between autonomy-supportive parenting and academic major satisfaction, controlled major choice motivation mediated the association between controlling parenting and academic major satisfaction. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.