ArticleFrontiers in psychology2026
Fostering engagement in the digital age: the mediating role of self-efficacy and self-regulation between enjoyment and learner engagement in AI-assisted EFL writing.
Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Introduction: The development of artificial intelligence (AI) has created new opportunities for AI-supported foreign language teaching and applications. This study investigates the interrelationships among foreign language enjoyment (FLE), writing self-efficacy, self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies, and learner engagement within the context of AI-assisted English as a foreign language (EFL) writing. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving 535 Chinese university students with prior experience in AI-assisted writing. Participants completed adapted and validated scales measuring FLE, writing self-efficacy, SRL strategies, and learner engagement. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test a hypothesized partial mediation model linking these constructs. Results: The results supported a well-fitting partial mediation model. FLE was found to be a direct and significant positive factor of learner engagement. Furthermore, the analysis confirmed that self-efficacy and SRL strategies act as sequential mediators in the relationship between FLE and engagement. Specifically, FLE is positively associated with learners' self-efficacy, which in turn promotes the use of SRL strategies, ultimately leading to deeper cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and agentic engagement in the writing task. Discussion: The study extends Control-Value Theory, Broaden-and-Build Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, and Self-Regulated Learning Theory to the novel domain of AI-assisted language learning, highlighting the critical affective and cognitive pathways that foster engaged learning. Pedagogical implications are discussed, emphasizing the importance of designing enjoyable, confidence-building, and strategy-rich AI-assisted writing environments.
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