Modeling the relationships between growth language mindset, L2 grit, and foreign language learning burnout

Abstract While the existing literature acknowledges the existence of foreign language learning burnout (FLLB) and its deleterious effect on English as a foreign language (EFL) learners, the protective factors that may alleviate FLLB in EFL contexts remain largely unexplored. The current study addres...

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Main Authors: Xiaojing Hu, Lu Song, Yuan He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:BMC Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02952-1
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author Xiaojing Hu
Lu Song
Yuan He
author_facet Xiaojing Hu
Lu Song
Yuan He
author_sort Xiaojing Hu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract While the existing literature acknowledges the existence of foreign language learning burnout (FLLB) and its deleterious effect on English as a foreign language (EFL) learners, the protective factors that may alleviate FLLB in EFL contexts remain largely unexplored. The current study addresses this gap by examining the impact of learners’ growth language mindset (GLM) on FLLB by employing the structural equation modeling (SEM). Furthermore, the mediating role of L2 grit in the relationship between GLM and FLLB was scrutinized. To achieve these objectives, 840 Chinese EFL learners were recruited to complete questionnaires encompassing scales assessing GLM, L2 grit, and FLLB. The results unveiled that learners’ GLM and L2 grit were significantly and negatively associated with FLLB. The SEM analysis indicated that GLM exerted a negative predictive effect on EFL learners’ FLLB. Additionally, two components of L2 grit, namely perseverance of effort (PE) and consistency of interest (CI), fully mediated the relationship between GLM and FLLB, with the influence of CI being particularly robust. The research findings offer significant theoretical implications and practical guidance for the intervention programs targeting FLLB in language classrooms.
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spelling doaj-art-43e7541fa5f84745b0ade2575a70c2a92025-08-20T02:05:42ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-06-0113111310.1186/s40359-025-02952-1Modeling the relationships between growth language mindset, L2 grit, and foreign language learning burnoutXiaojing Hu0Lu Song1Yuan He2School of Education, Institute of Communication and Global Public Opinion, Xi’an International Studies UniversitySchool of International Studies, Zhengzhou UniversitySchool of Education, Xi’an International Studies UniversityAbstract While the existing literature acknowledges the existence of foreign language learning burnout (FLLB) and its deleterious effect on English as a foreign language (EFL) learners, the protective factors that may alleviate FLLB in EFL contexts remain largely unexplored. The current study addresses this gap by examining the impact of learners’ growth language mindset (GLM) on FLLB by employing the structural equation modeling (SEM). Furthermore, the mediating role of L2 grit in the relationship between GLM and FLLB was scrutinized. To achieve these objectives, 840 Chinese EFL learners were recruited to complete questionnaires encompassing scales assessing GLM, L2 grit, and FLLB. The results unveiled that learners’ GLM and L2 grit were significantly and negatively associated with FLLB. The SEM analysis indicated that GLM exerted a negative predictive effect on EFL learners’ FLLB. Additionally, two components of L2 grit, namely perseverance of effort (PE) and consistency of interest (CI), fully mediated the relationship between GLM and FLLB, with the influence of CI being particularly robust. The research findings offer significant theoretical implications and practical guidance for the intervention programs targeting FLLB in language classrooms.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02952-1Foreign language learning burnoutGrowth language mindsetL2 gritPerseverance of effortConsistency of interest
spellingShingle Xiaojing Hu
Lu Song
Yuan He
Modeling the relationships between growth language mindset, L2 grit, and foreign language learning burnout
BMC Psychology
Foreign language learning burnout
Growth language mindset
L2 grit
Perseverance of effort
Consistency of interest
title Modeling the relationships between growth language mindset, L2 grit, and foreign language learning burnout
title_full Modeling the relationships between growth language mindset, L2 grit, and foreign language learning burnout
title_fullStr Modeling the relationships between growth language mindset, L2 grit, and foreign language learning burnout
title_full_unstemmed Modeling the relationships between growth language mindset, L2 grit, and foreign language learning burnout
title_short Modeling the relationships between growth language mindset, L2 grit, and foreign language learning burnout
title_sort modeling the relationships between growth language mindset l2 grit and foreign language learning burnout
topic Foreign language learning burnout
Growth language mindset
L2 grit
Perseverance of effort
Consistency of interest
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02952-1
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AT yuanhe modelingtherelationshipsbetweengrowthlanguagemindsetl2gritandforeignlanguagelearningburnout