Predicting academic performance through perceptions of the family atmosphere with the mediation of creative thinking

Abstract

 Introduction: Family atmosphere perceptions and creative thinking affect on academic performance. This study aimed to predict academic performance through family atmosphere perceptions with the mediation of creative thinking at the Yazd Farhangian University. Methods: This study was a correlation research using a "causal model". The population included 1,064 students of Yazd Farhangian University in academic year 2016-2017.  405 students were selected on based Morgan table using stratified random sampling model according to gender and semester. Measurement tools included Perceptions of Parents Scale (adult version) and a questionnaire of Torrance creative thinking with 60 items. The previous semester GPA was considered as the academic performance index. Questionnaires' data have been investigated in two parts: descriptive and inferential, using SPSS and AMOS and structural equation modeling approach. Result: Independent variables of family atmosphere perceptions and creative thinking explained 29 percent of the variance in academic performance. As well as the indirect effect of family atmosphere perceptions was statistically significant (p<0.001) on academic performance. Therefore, the variable of creative thinking plays a mediating role between the perceived family atmosphere and academic performance. Conclusion: Since family atmosphere perceptions as well as creative thinking have a significant effect on academic performance, the role of parents towards their children and also creative thinking training is very important. 

Keywords

• Structural model
• family atmosphere perceptions
• creative thinking
• academic performance