An Environmental Resource within the Job Demands-Resources Model: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy between Properties of the Learning Environment and Academic Engagement

Diego Bellini (), Barbara Barbieri, Marina Mondo, Serena Cubico and Tiziana Ramaci
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Diego Bellini: Faculty of Medicine, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
Barbara Barbieri: Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Marina Mondo: Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Serena Cubico: Department of Business Administration, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
Tiziana Ramaci: Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy

Social Sciences, 2022, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: The characteristics of learning environments are relevant for promoting academic engagement and learning achievement. Thus, this study seeks to identify whether perceived characteristics of the learning environment, and specifically, the sub-dimensions of Perceived Restorativeness (compatibility, being away, extent, fascination), can promote academic Engagement and self-efficacy using the Job Demands-Resources Model as the underlying conceptual framework. Further, we tested the mediating effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between Perceived Restorativeness and academic engagement. Data were collected from a sample of 188 Italian university students. Hierarchical multivariate regression analysis indicated that a restorative quality of the learning environment (i.e., compatibility and fascination) was positively correlated with academic engagement, but that there was a non-significant relationship between being Away and academic engagement and between extent and academic engagement. Regression analyses showed significant indirect effects of compatibility and extent through students’ self-Efficacy. Further, self-efficacy was a complete mediator between extent and academic engagement. Furthermore, self-efficacy was found to play a partially mediating role between compatibility and academic engagement. The results of this study provide important information that students, teachers and designers should pay attention to levels of restorative quality in the environment for improving engagement and self-efficacy.

Keywords: restorative environments; engagement; academic context; self-efficacy; environmental resources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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