Do you have AI dependency? The roles of academic self-efficacy, academic stress, and performance expectations on problematic AI usage behavior

• Published in: International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 34 - 14
• Main Authors: Zhang, Shunan, Zhao, Xiangying, Zhou, Tong, Kim, Jang Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.12.2024; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Academic self-efficacy; Academic stress; Addictive Behavior; Addictive behaviors; AI dependency; Artificial intelligence; Behavior; Behavior Problems; Beliefs; Chatbots; ChatGPT; Cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive Processes; College Students; Colleges & universities; Computer Appl. in Social and Behavioral Sciences; Computer Science; Computers and Education; Coping; Educational Technology; Effectiveness; Emotional Response; Evaluative Thinking; Expectation; Higher Education; Humanities; Individual Characteristics; Influence of Technology; Information Systems Applications (incl.Internet); Law; Literature Reviews; Performance expectations; Periodicals; Physical Education; Psychological Patterns; Research Article; Self Efficacy; Social Cognition; Statistics for Social Sciences; University students; World Problems; AI dependency; Academic stress; Academic self-efficacy; ChatGPT; Artificial intelligence; Performance expectations
• ISSN: 2365-9440; 2365-9440
• DOI: 10.1186/s41239-024-00467-0

Although previous studies have highlighted the problematic artificial intelligence (AI) usage behaviors in educational contexts, such as overreliance on AI, no study has explored the antecedents and potential consequences that contribute to this problem. Therefore, this study investigates the causes and consequences of AI dependency using ChatGPT as an example. Using the Interaction of the Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model, this study explores the internal associations between academic self-efficacy, academic stress, performance expectations, and AI dependency. It also identifies the negative consequences of AI dependency. Analysis of data from 300 university students revealed that the relationship between academic self-efficacy and AI dependency was mediated by academic stress and performance expectations. The top five negative effects of AI dependency include increased laziness, the spread of misinformation, a lower level of creativity, and reduced critical and independent thinking. The findings provide explanations and solutions to mitigate the negative effects of AI dependency.