The Impact of Learning Motivation on Study Engagement among Students Majoring in Tea Studies at Chinese Vocational Colleges: The Mediating Effect of Professional Satisfaction

Abstract

This research investigates how learning motivation, engagement, and professional satisfaction are interconnected among tea science students at vocational colleges in China. The study involved 580 tea science students from higher vocational colleges in Y City who completed a questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using a structural equation model. The findings revealed that learning motivation positively influences learning engagement. However, professional satisfaction has a negative impact and partially mediates learning motivation and learning engagement. The findings suggest that while strong learning motivation benefits learning engagement, high professional satisfaction does not necessarily lead to increased engagement. Therefore, students majoring in tea science should maintain their motivation to learn and strive for improvement, while also ensuring they are satisfied with their professional development. By doing so, they can enhance their competitiveness and avoid complacency with their current status.