Willing, able, and engaged: roles of action-state orientation, intrinsic academic motivation, and time management on academic engagement

The current study investigates the longitudinal association between decision-related action orientation (AOD, the ability to initiate the intended actions decisively) and academic engagement. Moreover, this study examines the roles of time management and intrinsic academic motivation in this relationship. Specifically, it is proposed that time management mediates the relationship between AOD and academic engagement, and this mediated effect is moderated by intrinsic academic motivation. The analysis of the data collected in three waves from 222 undergraduates (180 women) with a mean age of 20.98 years (SD = 2.73) confirmed the predictions. Time management mediated the relationship between AOD and academic engagement for students who reported high intrinsic motivation. Study results suggest that AOD and intrinsic academic motivation work synergetically to shape academic engagement through efficient time management. The study findings provide valuable insights for practice, emphasizing the consideration of both motivational and volitional processes, and time management strategies to contribute to student engagement.