Primary School Students’ Enjoyment, Boredom, and Cognitive Learning Strategies in Mathematics Over One School Year

Putwain, D ORCID: 0000-0001-5196-4270 (2026) Primary School Students’ Enjoyment, Boredom, and Cognitive Learning Strategies in Mathematics Over One School Year. British Journal of Educational Psychology. ISSN 0007-0998 (Accepted)

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Abstract

Background: According to the control-value theory (CVT) of achievement emotions, enjoyment and boredom impact cognitive learning strategies. However, empirical evidence on the relations between these constructs over time is lacking, particularly for primary school students.

Aims: This study aimed to longitudinally investigate the relations between two achievement emotions (enjoyment and boredom) and students’ use of cognitive strategies (rehearsal and elaboration) in mathematics lessons.

Sample: We collected data from schools in England, recruiting 1014 students in Years 5 and 6, aged 9 to 11 years.

Methods: We administered a survey at three time points (T) across one school year, with 3–4-month intervals between waves. We assessed enjoyment and boredom at T1 and T3, and rehearsal and elaboration at T2.

Results: A structural equation model indicated that T1 enjoyment was positively related to T2 rehearsal and elaboration, and that T2 elaboration was associated with greater T3 enjoyment and lower T3 boredom. T2 elaboration mediated the relations between T1 enjoyment and both T3 enjoyment and T3 boredom. These relations were weaker for boys and Year 6 students.

Conclusions: In a sample of young students, our findings were broadly consistent with CVT assumptions and shed light on the nature of the relations between achievement emotions and cognitive strategies. The longitudinal relations involving enjoyment suggest that supporting this emotion from the beginning of the school year may be beneficial, given its positive associations with subsequent cognitive and emotional outcomes.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1303 Specialist Studies in Education; 1701 Psychology; Education; 3904 Specialist studies in education; 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
Subjects:	L Education > LB Theory and practice of education L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1501 Primary Education Q Science > QA Mathematics
Divisions:	Education
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	11 November 2026
Date Deposited:	12 Nov 2026 11:18
Last Modified:	12 Nov 2026 11:18
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29860

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