How Do Personal Attributes Shape AI Dependency in Chinese Higher Education Context? Insights from Needs Frustration Perspective.

<h4>Objective</h4>The adoption of Generative AI in education presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly regarding its potential to foster student dependency. However, the psychological drivers of this dependency remain unclear. This study addresses this gap by applying the...

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Main Authors: Wenjun Zhong, Jianghua Luo, Ya Lyu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313314
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author Wenjun Zhong
Jianghua Luo
Ya Lyu
author_facet Wenjun Zhong
Jianghua Luo
Ya Lyu
author_sort Wenjun Zhong
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Objective</h4>The adoption of Generative AI in education presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly regarding its potential to foster student dependency. However, the psychological drivers of this dependency remain unclear. This study addresses this gap by applying the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model and Basic Psychological Needs (BPN) theory to explore how specific personality traits-neuroticism, self-critical perfectionism, and impulsivity-contribute to AI dependency through needs frustration, negative academic emotions, and reinforced performance beliefs.<h4>Method</h4>Data were collected from 958 university students (Mage = 21.67) across various disciplines. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationships among the variables.<h4>Results</h4>Neuroticism, self-critical perfectionism, and impulsivity were found to be significantly associated with increase needs frustration and negative academic emotions, which in turn reinforced students' positive beliefs about performance of AI tools, deepening their dependency. The study also uncovered complex serial mediation effects, highlighting intricate psychological pathways that drive maladaptive AI use.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This research provides a critical insight into the interplay between personality traits and technology use, shedding light on the nuanced ways in which individual differences influence dependency on generative AI. The findings offer practical strategies for educators to promote balanced AI use and support student well-being in educational settings.
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spelling doaj-art-8e5f23dc887e4d758ac36df7b01b2e0c2025-08-20T02:13:02ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-011911e031331410.1371/journal.pone.0313314How Do Personal Attributes Shape AI Dependency in Chinese Higher Education Context? Insights from Needs Frustration Perspective.Wenjun ZhongJianghua LuoYa Lyu<h4>Objective</h4>The adoption of Generative AI in education presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly regarding its potential to foster student dependency. However, the psychological drivers of this dependency remain unclear. This study addresses this gap by applying the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model and Basic Psychological Needs (BPN) theory to explore how specific personality traits-neuroticism, self-critical perfectionism, and impulsivity-contribute to AI dependency through needs frustration, negative academic emotions, and reinforced performance beliefs.<h4>Method</h4>Data were collected from 958 university students (Mage = 21.67) across various disciplines. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationships among the variables.<h4>Results</h4>Neuroticism, self-critical perfectionism, and impulsivity were found to be significantly associated with increase needs frustration and negative academic emotions, which in turn reinforced students' positive beliefs about performance of AI tools, deepening their dependency. The study also uncovered complex serial mediation effects, highlighting intricate psychological pathways that drive maladaptive AI use.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This research provides a critical insight into the interplay between personality traits and technology use, shedding light on the nuanced ways in which individual differences influence dependency on generative AI. The findings offer practical strategies for educators to promote balanced AI use and support student well-being in educational settings.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313314
spellingShingle Wenjun Zhong
Jianghua Luo
Ya Lyu
How Do Personal Attributes Shape AI Dependency in Chinese Higher Education Context? Insights from Needs Frustration Perspective.
PLoS ONE
title How Do Personal Attributes Shape AI Dependency in Chinese Higher Education Context? Insights from Needs Frustration Perspective.
title_full How Do Personal Attributes Shape AI Dependency in Chinese Higher Education Context? Insights from Needs Frustration Perspective.
title_fullStr How Do Personal Attributes Shape AI Dependency in Chinese Higher Education Context? Insights from Needs Frustration Perspective.
title_full_unstemmed How Do Personal Attributes Shape AI Dependency in Chinese Higher Education Context? Insights from Needs Frustration Perspective.
title_short How Do Personal Attributes Shape AI Dependency in Chinese Higher Education Context? Insights from Needs Frustration Perspective.
title_sort how do personal attributes shape ai dependency in chinese higher education context insights from needs frustration perspective
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313314
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