Today’s goal of modern schools is to prepare students for life, not only limited to subject education. It should be noted that the academic achievements of Kazakhstani schoolchildren, according to the results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2018, showed a slightly lower level than in 2015 (Figure 1). Comparing PISA results, we observed a decline in Kazakhstan’s educational achievement in all three areas (The National Report on the State and Development of the Education System of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the 30 years of Independence and 2021, 2022). These changes are associated with various factors, including the academic motivation of students since academic motivation plays an important role in the educational process. If students are not sufficiently motivated, they may not be interested and engaged in their studies (Gordeeva et al., 2018). The decline in PISA results in 2018 compared to 2015 may indicate the need to pay attention to the academic life of schoolchildren in Kazakhstan.

Academic achievement is a complex phenomenon influenced by many factors, including teacher initiative, motivation, learning strategies, and teacher-student relationships. Understanding these factors and their interactions is essential to improve student outcomes and enhance the educational experience (Linnenbrink and Pintrich, 2002; Fomichenko, 2017; Arpentieva et al., 2018; Gasinets et al., 2022; Greenwald et al., 2023). To stimulate students, develop their interest in academic subjects, and increase their level of motivation, additional efforts may be required. This includes the development and implementation of a variety of approaches and strategies aimed at actively involving students, creating a motivational atmosphere in schools, and supporting the development of their learning interests and goals (Guay et al., 2010).

School performance can be influenced by factors such as self-regulation, engagement, and motivation for academic achievement (Ishmuratova et al., 2021). Gordeeva et al. (2017) examined the relationship between intelligence, motivation, coping strategies, and academic achievement of schoolchildren, emphasizing the importance of motivation for academic achievement and suggesting that motivated students tend to have better coping strategies. A study by Bouffard et al. (2003) suggests that changes in self-perception are strongly associated with changes in intrinsic motivation and academic achievement. Mok et al. (2007) study highlights the importance of considering the developmental trajectory of motivational and cognitive-metacognitive competencies when designing interventions to support student academic development. Taken together, these studies provide insight into the complex interplay between motivation, self-regulation, engagement, and academic achievement among schoolchildren.

It is also necessary to take into account the role of emotional intelligence in the academic success of schoolchildren. Thus, studying and understanding emotions and emotional reactions not only improve the psychological well-being of students but can also lead to more successful learning and achievement of learning goals (Alford, 2017). Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others (Mayer and Salovey, 1990; Goleman, 1996; Bar-On, 2006; Lyusin, 2006). Recently, the relationship of emotional intelligence in the lives of students and adolescents has been studied in various aspects: the relationships with subjective well-being (Martínez-Marín and Martínez, 2019; Azpiazu et al., 2022; Llamas-Díaz et al., 2022; Salavera and Usán, 2022), happiness (Abdollahi et al., 2019), optimism, and pessimism (Tejada-Gallardo et al., 2022), personal-social competence (Mavroveli et al., 2011; Vicent et al., 2022). Early research also highlights the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic achievement (Vidal Rodeiro et al., 2012; Jiménez-Blanco et al., 2020; Chamizo-Nieto et al., 2021; Bueno-Villaverde et al., 2022). Pulido Acosta and Herrera Clavero’s (2018) study resulted that emotional intelligence has an impact on student achievement, and its development can improve academic achievement in various fields. Emotional intelligence and teacher-student relationships have also been found to play a significant role in the academic achievement of schoolchildren. Overall, these studies show that emotional intelligence is positively associated with academic achievement and can be developed and strengthened to improve student academic performance.

Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic motivation of secondary school students. In particular, the purpose of the study was to study differences in emotional intelligence and academic motivation in different classes and genders, as well as to study the relationship between various components of emotional intelligence and the overall level of emotional intelligence with the level of academic motivation. Additionally, the study aimed to determine whether the predominance of internal or external motivation, the desire to achieve success or avoid failure, as well as the level of implementation of motives in behavior, is associated with emotional intelligence among school students.

In total, 682 secondary school students from 12 schools in 4 regions (Pavlodar, Aktobe, Kostanay and Abai) took part in the study. More than half (63.2%) of the participants were female. The mean age of the respondent was 13.1 years (SD = 2.74) and ranged between 11–16 years old. Among the respondents, 169 (24.8%) were 6th grade students, 232 (34%)—7th graders, and 281 (41.2%) were 8th graders under the 11/12-year Kazakhstani curriculum. The sex ratio in the three classes did not have significant differences (p = 0.660). The distribution by gender and age in the three grades is shown in Supplementary Table S1.

The used scale of emotional intelligence made it possible to evaluate such characteristics as interpersonal (IeEI, M = 39.4 ± 7.98) and intrapersonal (IaEI, M = 39.7 ± 8.83) emotional intelligence, understanding emotions (UE, M = 37.5 ± 7.24), managing emotions (ME, M = 41.7 ± 8.25) and the general level of emotional intelligence (GLEI, M = 79.2 ± 14.0). Comparative data of these indicators in three grades and by gender are presented in Tables 1, 2, respectively.

The IeEI level was significantly lower among 7th grade students compared to 6th and 8th graders (p < 0.05). The ME and GLEI levels were significantly lower among 7th graders compared to 6th graders (p < 0.05). Moreover, IaEI (p < 0.001), ME (p < 0.001) and GLEI (p < 0.05) levels were higher among male students compared to girls, while UE did not differ by gender, and IeEI was higher among girls than boys (p < 0.05). The analysis of independent and combined models of the effect of gender and grade showed the following results: gender had a significant and largest effect size on IaEI and ME, grade—on IeEI and GLEI (Supplementary Table S2).

The mean level of motivation was 43.6 ± 14.0 and differed by grade and gender (Table 3). Thus, the level of motivation was higher among girls compared to boys, as well as among 6th graders compared to 7th grade students (p < 0.05). A comparison of the models of the influence of “gender,” “grade” and “gender + grade” on the level of motivation revealed that gender had the greatest reliable effect size (Supplementary Table S2).

Correlation analysis of various components of EI and the GLEI with the level of academic motivation is presented in Table 4. The levels of various components of EI and the GLEI had a significant correlation with the level of academic motivation. In the linear regression model, only gender (β = 0.282, p < 0.001) and GLEI (β = 0.213, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of schoolchildren’s academic motivation (R² = 0.06, p < 0.001), while grades and age had no significant effects.

The scale of academic motivation used in the study maked it possible to identify the predominance of the student’s intrinsic or extrinsic motivation for learning, the adolescent’s desire to achieve success in school or avoid failure, and whether all these motives are realized in the behavior of schoolchildren. The levels of different subtypes of the EI and the GLEI in different groups of schoolchildren, depending on the nature of academic motivation, are presented in Tables 5–7.

Table 5 shows the differences in the levels of various EI components and GLEI depending on the predominance of intrinsic or extrinsic motivation among schoolchildren. Schoolchildren with a predominance of intrinsic motivation had higher level of emotional intelligence in comparison with schoolchildren who had intermediate or extrinsic motivations.

Moreover, students who had a higher desire to achieve success versus avoid failure had higher levels of IaEI, ME, and GLEI (Table 6).

The level of implementation of motives in the behavior of schoolchildren was also associated with the level of emotional intelligence. So, students who realize their academic motives in behavior had higher levels of various components of EI and the GLEI (Table 7).

Developing emotional intelligence will help students better understand and manage their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. This is an important skill that can contribute to successful learning, cooperation, and emotionally supportive relationships in a learning environment. The combination of academic motivation, the development of learning interest and the emotional intelligence of students can have a positive impact on their educational achievements and results in international studies, including PISA. Therefore, in addition to efforts to stimulate motivation, it is also important to pay attention to the development of students’ emotional intelligence by creating a favorable and supportive learning environment (Courtney et al., 2023). Thus, the aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence, academic motivation and various demographic factors among high school students.

The results showed that there were significant differences in emotional intelligence at different levels of learning. Specifically, 7th grade students had lower levels of Interpersonal Emotional Intelligence, Emotion Management, and General Emotional Intelligence compared to 6th and 8th grade students. Moreover, male students demonstrated higher levels of intrapersonal emotional intelligence, emotion management, and general emotional intelligence compared to female students. On the other hand, emotion understanding did not differ significantly by gender, and girls had a higher level of interpersonal emotional intelligence than boys. The observed differences in emotional intelligence levels among secondary school students in Kazakhstan align with broader developmental and gendered dynamics outlined by psychosocial and gender theories. Males’ higher scores in intrapersonal emotional intelligence and emotion management may reflect societal expectations for males to demonstrate emotional stoicism and self-regulation, while females’ higher scores in interpersonal emotional intelligence may reflect norms valuing relational sensitivity and empathy among females. In support of this, Jiménez-Blanco et al. (2020) showed that girls ‘scores in perception and emotional comprehension were consistently higher than boys. At the same time study among Spanish primary school children showed higher levels of emotional repair in girls compared to boys (Luque-González et al., 2022). Given the role of psychological development, features of cultural and educational systems, we are confident that the results of the current study will undoubtedly enrich the theoretical discourse and determine the directions of future research in this area.

In terms of academic motivation, the study found that levels of motivation varied by grade and gender. Girls had a higher level of motivation compared to boys, and 6th graders had a higher level of motivation compared to 7th graders. These results suggest that gender and grade play a role in shaping the level of student motivation.

In addition, the study examined the correlation between different components of emotional intelligence and overall academic motivation. The results showed a significant correlation between the various components of emotional intelligence and the level of academic motivation. In a linear regression model, gender and general level of emotional intelligence were identified as significant predictors of student academic motivation, while grades and age did not show a significant effect. In the course of the study, the relationship between the implementation of motives in the behavior of schoolchildren and emotional intelligence was studied. The results showed that students who implemented their academic motives in behavior had higher levels of emotional intelligence in various components and a general level of emotional intelligence.

These results are consistent with previous research on emotional intelligence, academic motivation, and student achievement (Arias et al., 2022). Research consistently showed that emotional intelligence was associated with academic achievement and student motivation. Marsono et al. (2019) emphasize that emotional intelligence has a significant impact on student motivation, especially in relation to success in mathematics. In addition, a study by Arias et al. (2022), found a positive relationship between emotional intelligence and academic motivation in primary school students. Moreover, studies conducted by Yahaya et al. (2012), Usán Supervía and Salavera Bordás, 2018, Amador-Licona et al. (2020) confirmed that emotional intelligence had a significant impact on academic motivation and performance. Thus, the current study complemented the existing literature by focusing on secondary school students and examining the role of demographic factors such as age, grade, and gender.

This study highlighted the complex relationship between emotional intelligence, academic motivation, and demographic factors among secondary school students. The results obtained indicate that emotional intelligence and motivation are interrelated and are influenced by factors such as grade, gender, and the realization of motives in behavior. Further research is needed to explore these relationships across educational institutions and develop effective interventions to promote emotional intelligence and intrinsic motivation.

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

The study involving human participants was approved by the Ethics Committee of Toraighyrov University (extract 198 from protocol no. 7 of November 17, 2022). Written informed consent to participate in the study was not required from the participants or their legal guardians/next of kin in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements.

KT: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft. NP: Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – review & editing. EB: Methodology, Writing – review & editing. AK: Data curation, Investigation, Writing – review & editing. AB: Formal analysis, Investigation, Writing – review & editing.