Perceived AI literacy moderates the first-stage paths from AI dependence to escape, social, and entertainment motivation, but not to instrumental motivation¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Interaction terms between AI dependence and AI literacy are significant for escape (b = −0.163), social (b = −0.135), and entertainment (b = −0.045) motivation but not instrumental motivation (b = 0.014, p = 0.228). → Hou Jie 2026 q2 i? Indices of moderated mediation are significant for the escape, social, and entertainment pathways but not the instrumental pathway, so Hypothesis 6 receives partial support. → Hou Jie 2026

Evidence¶

Hou Jie 2026¶

Hou Jie, Huang Yanhong, Wang Qing, Yao Xiaoxue, Zhang Peizheng, Zhao Fengqing. (2026). AI Dependence and Self-Reported Creativity Among Chinese College Students: The Roles of Motivation for AI Use and Perceived AI Literacy. Behavioral Sciences, 16(9), 1712. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16091712

q2 · i? · associational · r2

PROCESS Model 8 moderated mediation in the 5764-participant survey; the printed interaction coefficients show moderation "for escape motivation (b = −0.163, p < 0.001)" and the other two paths, with positive dependence–motivation associations weakening as literacy increased.

"The interaction terms between AI dependence and AI literacy were significant for escape motivation (b = −0.163, p < 0.001), social motivation (b = −0.135, p < 0.001), and entertainment motivation (b = −0.045, p < 0.001), but not for instrumental motivation (b = 0.014, p = 0.228)."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Motivation — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• Entertainment motivation carries a positive indirect association between AI dependence and self-reported creativity, weakening as perceived AI literacy increases — related
• Escape motivation carries a significant negative indirect association between AI dependence and self-reported creativity — related
• The indirect association through social motivation is model-dependent: negative in the unconditional model but positive and attenuating with higher perceived AI literacy in the moderated model — related
• Instrumental motivation shows a small negative indirect association in the moderated model, contrary to the hypothesized positive pathway, with sign reversal across model specifications — related
• Perceived AI literacy does not significantly moderate the direct association between AI dependence and self-reported creativity — related
• AI dependence is negatively associated with self-reported creativity among Chinese college students, with a residual direct effect after motivational mediators are controlled — related