Peer support and learning outcomes in “Study With Me” among Generation Z college students: mediating roles of motivation, test anxiety, and self-efficacy

Background“Study With Me (SWM),” a popular trend among Generation Z college students, enabling self-directed learning through livestreams or prerecorded videos and offering peer support in virtual settings. However, its impact on learning outcomes remains underexplored.PurposeThis study examines how...

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Main Authors: Rui Hou, Ling Jin, Jian He, Jin-Liang Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1582857/full
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author Rui Hou
Ling Jin
Jian He
Jin-Liang Wang
author_facet Rui Hou
Ling Jin
Jian He
Jin-Liang Wang
author_sort Rui Hou
collection DOAJ
description Background“Study With Me (SWM),” a popular trend among Generation Z college students, enabling self-directed learning through livestreams or prerecorded videos and offering peer support in virtual settings. However, its impact on learning outcomes remains underexplored.PurposeThis study examines how peer support impacts learning satisfaction and engagement in SWM, focusing on intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, test anxiety, and self-efficacy as mediators, comparing livestreams and prerecorded formats.MethodsData were collected from 509 Chinese college students who had engaged in SWM on Bilibili for at least three consecutive months. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and multigroup analyses were conducted using SPSS 30.0 and AMOS 26.0.ResultsPeer support positively predicted intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, learning satisfaction, and engagement, and negatively predicted test anxiety. Intrinsic motivation, test anxiety, and self-efficacy mediated the effect of peer support on learning satisfaction, while intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and self-efficacy mediated its effect on learning engagement. Multigroup analysis revealed stronger peer support paths among livestream learners and stronger self-efficacy paths among prerecorded video learners.ConclusionThese findings underscore the importance of peer support in fulfilling psychological needs and improving learning outcomes in SWM, offering practical implications for enhancing digital learning and supportive online environments.
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spelling doaj-art-a12c4eafd8f54fb49fc8acd4075802952025-08-20T03:14:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-06-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15828571582857Peer support and learning outcomes in “Study With Me” among Generation Z college students: mediating roles of motivation, test anxiety, and self-efficacyRui Hou0Ling Jin1Jian He2Jin-Liang Wang3Boya College, Ningxia University, Zhongwei, Ningxia, ChinaCollege of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Shandong Huayu University of Technology, Dezhou, Shandong, ChinaQinxue College, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, ChinaCenter for Mental Health Education, School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, ChinaBackground“Study With Me (SWM),” a popular trend among Generation Z college students, enabling self-directed learning through livestreams or prerecorded videos and offering peer support in virtual settings. However, its impact on learning outcomes remains underexplored.PurposeThis study examines how peer support impacts learning satisfaction and engagement in SWM, focusing on intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, test anxiety, and self-efficacy as mediators, comparing livestreams and prerecorded formats.MethodsData were collected from 509 Chinese college students who had engaged in SWM on Bilibili for at least three consecutive months. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and multigroup analyses were conducted using SPSS 30.0 and AMOS 26.0.ResultsPeer support positively predicted intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, learning satisfaction, and engagement, and negatively predicted test anxiety. Intrinsic motivation, test anxiety, and self-efficacy mediated the effect of peer support on learning satisfaction, while intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and self-efficacy mediated its effect on learning engagement. Multigroup analysis revealed stronger peer support paths among livestream learners and stronger self-efficacy paths among prerecorded video learners.ConclusionThese findings underscore the importance of peer support in fulfilling psychological needs and improving learning outcomes in SWM, offering practical implications for enhancing digital learning and supportive online environments.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1582857/fullStudy With MeGeneration Z College Studentspeer supportlearning outcomeslearning motivationtest anxiety
spellingShingle Rui Hou
Ling Jin
Jian He
Jin-Liang Wang
Peer support and learning outcomes in “Study With Me” among Generation Z college students: mediating roles of motivation, test anxiety, and self-efficacy
Frontiers in Psychology
Study With Me
Generation Z College Students
peer support
learning outcomes
learning motivation
test anxiety
title Peer support and learning outcomes in “Study With Me” among Generation Z college students: mediating roles of motivation, test anxiety, and self-efficacy
title_full Peer support and learning outcomes in “Study With Me” among Generation Z college students: mediating roles of motivation, test anxiety, and self-efficacy
title_fullStr Peer support and learning outcomes in “Study With Me” among Generation Z college students: mediating roles of motivation, test anxiety, and self-efficacy
title_full_unstemmed Peer support and learning outcomes in “Study With Me” among Generation Z college students: mediating roles of motivation, test anxiety, and self-efficacy
title_short Peer support and learning outcomes in “Study With Me” among Generation Z college students: mediating roles of motivation, test anxiety, and self-efficacy
title_sort peer support and learning outcomes in study with me among generation z college students mediating roles of motivation test anxiety and self efficacy
topic Study With Me
Generation Z College Students
peer support
learning outcomes
learning motivation
test anxiety
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1582857/full
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