The Importance of Pride When Learning Math: The Influence of Academic Emotions and Motivation on Mathematics Achievement

Emotions and motivation are important in students’ learning and achievement. This study explored how discrete positive and negative emotions, alongside motivational beliefs such as intrinsic value, utility, and perceived competence, relate to students’ performance in mathematics. A total of 644 Serbian high school students completed questionnaires on their emotional and motivational experiences in mathematics. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that positive emotions, particularly pride, were strong predictors of achievement, while negative emotions had little effect. When motivation was considered, pride and perceived competence emerged as the most important factors, while the impact of enjoyment declined. These results show the close connection between how students feel and their confidence in their abilities. They also point to the need for more focus on positive emotions like pride, which may encourage deeper engagement and better performance in school. Understanding how these emotions develop in the classroom could help teachers better support their students' success.