The Relationship between AI-Supported Education and Students’ Psychological Empowerment: The Mediating Effect of Digital Learning Self-Efficacy

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between AI-Supported Education and Students’ Psychological Empowerment, with particular emphasis on the mediating role of Digital Learning Self-Efficacy. A quantitative cross-sectional survey research design was employed, and data were collected from 413 university students enrolled in higher education institutions across Pakistan. A structured, adopted questionnaire was used to collect primary data through an online Google Forms survey. The instrument included measures of AI-Supported Education, Digital Learning Self-Efficacy, and Students’ Psychological Empowerment, with the Online Learning Self-Efficacy Scale and Psychological Empowerment Scale adapted to the context of university students. The collected responses were initially organized in Microsoft Excel and subsequently analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics through descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation, regression, demographic comparison, and mediation analysis. The findings demonstrated a significant positive relationship between AI-Supported Education and Students’ Psychological Empowerment and showed that AI-Supported Education significantly predicted students’ psychological empowerment. The results further indicated that Digital Learning Self-Efficacy played a significant mediating role in this relationship, suggesting that students’ confidence in managing digital learning activities provides an important pathway through which AI-supported educational experiences are associated with greater psychological empowerment. The study contributes to the emerging literature on AI in education by extending attention beyond academic achievement and technology use toward students’ psychological experiences, particularly their sense of competence, autonomy, meaningfulness, and influence in learning. The findings have practical implications for universities, educators, and educational technology developers seeking to design AI-supported learning environments that strengthen both digital learning capabilities and students’ psychological development.