Survey responses of 255 elementary school students in Gangwon Province, Korea, were analyzed to see
how their perceptions of parental support and achievement pressure predicted their motivation, strategy use,
and achievement. Parental variables as well as student motivation variables such as self-efficacy, achievement
goals, and test stress were assessed before midterm, while strategy use and teacher ratings of achievement
were assessed after midterm. Structural equation modeling showed that motivation variables significantly
mediated the relationship of parental variables with strategy use and achievement of students. Further, as
mastery-approach goals became stronger, use of self-regulatory strategies increased, which resulted in higher
achievement. As performance-approach goals became stronger and self-efficacy became weaker, students
reported higher test stress. Higher test stress subsequently resulted in decreased use of self-regulatory
strategies and increased use of self-handicapping strategies. Performance-approach goals and self-efficacy thus
linked to achievement via test stress and self-regulatory strategy use as multiple mediators.