The role of STEM teachers' emotional intelligence and psychological well-being in predicting their artificial intelligence literacy

• Published in: Acta psychologica Vol. 253; p. 104708
• Main Author: Fu, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2025; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Artificial Intelligence; Artificial intelligence literacy; China; Emotional Intelligence; Female; Humans; Literacy - psychology; Male; Middle Aged; Psychological Well-Being; School Teachers - psychology; STEM teachers; Surveys and Questionnaires; China; Artificial intelligence literacy; Emotional intelligence; Psychological well-being; Artificial intelligence; STEM teachers
• ISSN: 0001-6918; 1873-6297; 1873-6297
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104708

This study explores the role of emotional intelligence and psychological well-being in predicting artificial intelligence literacy among STEM teachers. A total of 383 Chinese STEM teachers from Henan, Zhejiang, and Yunnan provinces participated. The participants varied in age and academic backgrounds, bringing diverse experiences to their roles. Data was collected using three instruments: the Meta AI Literacy Scale (MAILS), Psychological Well-Being at Work, and the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS). The study employed a back-translation method to ensure the accuracy of the English questionnaires, which were administered online. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS (version 27) and AMOS (version 24) to explore relationships between variables. The findings reveal a strong and statistically significant relationship between psychological well-being, emotional intelligence, and AI literacy, with psychological well-being uniquely predicting about 61 % and emotional intelligence predicting 71 % of the variations in AI literacy. These results highlight the critical role of psychological and emotional health in fostering teachers' mastery of AI-related skills, emphasizing the need for educational programs to support these aspects for effective integration of new technologies. •This study examines how emotional intelligence and well-being predict AI literacy in STEM teachers.•Data was collected using the Meta AI Literacy Scale, Psychological Well-Being at Work, and the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale.•The findings reveal a strong relationship between psychological well-being, emotional intelligence, and AI literacy.