How peer relationships affect academic achievement among junior high school students: The chain mediating roles of learning motivation and learning engagement

Abstract Background Despite the recognition of the impact of peer relationships, learning motivation, and learning engagement on academic achievement, there is still a gap in understanding the specific mechanisms through which peer relationships impact academic achievement via learning motivation and learning engagement. Methods This study aims to investigate how peer relationships affect junior high school students’ academic achievement through the chain mediating roles of learning motivation and learning engagement, employing the self-system model of motivational development as the theoretical framework. In January 2024, 717 participants were selected from two middle schools in eastern China (mean age = 13.49 years, SD = 0.5). The data analysis in this study was performed using the structural equation model (SEM) in AMOS 24.0 and SPSS 24.0. Results The results showed that peer relationships were directly and significantly related to junior high school students’ academic achievement, and that peer relationships were indirectly and positively related to junior high school students’ academic achievement via learning motivation and learning engagement respectively. The results also revealed a significant indirect and positive relationship between peer relationships and junior high school students’ academic achievement, mediated by the sequential mediating roles of learning motivation and learning engagement. Moreover, the path “peer relationship→learning motivation→academic achievement” has the strongest indirect effect. Conclusion For junior high school students to achieve academic success, the appropriate interventions should be implemented to improve peer relationships, learning motivation, and learning engagement.