A Critical Analysis of Declining Student Learning Motivation in Contemporary Educational Environments
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Declining student learning motivation in contemporary educational environments is one of the major challenges facing education systems, as it can adversely affect the quality of learning, classroom participation, academic achievement, and the development of positive attitudes toward education. The present study aims to critically analyze the individual, psychological, educational, familial, social, and technological factors contributing to declining student learning motivation and to identify the mechanisms that weaken academic engagement and enthusiasm for learning. This study employs a descriptive-analytical approach based on library research and a review of relevant scholarly articles. Findings derived from the analysis of the literature indicate that academic anxiety, cognitive fatigue, reduced self-efficacy, poor self-regulation, and repeated experiences of failure contribute to the weakening of intrinsic motivation. Furthermore, passive teaching methods, grade-centered assessment, impractical educational content, unsupportive school relationships, and limited opportunities for participation can diminish students’ sense of competence and academic belonging. Pressure arising from family expectations, social comparison, educational inequality, and the imbalanced use of digital technologies may further intensify this condition. The findings indicate that declining learning motivation is a multidimensional phenomenon resulting from the interaction of individual and environmental factors. Strengthening learner autonomy, redesigning educational experiences, improving assessment practices, and expanding psychological and family support can contribute to restoring students’ motivation and promoting greater persistence in learning.
Author: Behboudi Nahzami, Ameneh
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225648175
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