The role of identity styles and social support from peers on emotional engagement in the English as a foreign language learning

Abstract

This present study was designed to investigate influences of identity styles and social support from peers on emotional EFL classroom engagement in a large sample of Saudi early adolescents (N=406) ranged in age from 12 to 15. This emotional engagement construct is based on the identity styles literature and draws upon concepts of social support received from peers as one of the most important sources of validation from others during adolescence period, and as a mediating variable of the associations between students’ identity styles and emotional engagement. The study shows gender differences within the sample. In general, the findings of the study demonstrate the role of social support received from peers in enhancing identity styles and influencing emotional EFL classroom engagement.