Observers' perceptions of a classmate's GenAI use are negatively associated with interpersonal trust among university students¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · associational r2 · q2 · i1 small
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i1 GenAI use is significantly negatively correlated with interpersonal trust (r = −0.19). → Zhang Zhen 2026 q2 i1 GenAI use significantly and negatively predicts interpersonal trust in regression (β = −0.19). → Zhang Zhen 2026 (2)

Evidence¶

Zhang Zhen 2026¶

Zhang Zhen, Geng Jiaying, Qi Chunhui. (2026). Observer Perceptions of GenAI Use and Interpersonal Trust: The Roles of Warmth, Competence, and AI Literacy. Behavioral Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16071221

q2 · i1 · associational · r2

Correlation analysis (Table 2) in a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 406 university students recruited via Credamo, using a recall method targeting a specific classmate. GenAI use correlated negatively with trust, "r = −0.19, p < 0.01".

"GenAI use was significantly negatively correlated with perceived warmth (r = −0.15, p < 0.01), perceived competence (r = −0.15, p < 0.01), and interpersonal trust (r = −0.19, p < 0.01)."

Zhang Zhen 2026 (2)¶

Zhang Zhen, Geng Jiaying, Qi Chunhui. (2026). Observer Perceptions of GenAI Use and Interpersonal Trust: The Roles of Warmth, Competence, and AI Literacy. Behavioral Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16071221

q2 · i1 · associational · r2

Linear regression in the mediation test (PROCESS Model 4) with gender, age, grade, major, and relationship duration controlled; AI use "significantly and negatively predicted interpersonal trust (β = −0.19, t = −3.96, p < 0.001)".

"The results showed that AI use significantly and negatively predicted interpersonal trust (β = −0.19, t = −3.96, p < 0.001)."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Perceived AI literacy moderates the direct path: the negative GenAI use–trust association is significant at low literacy and non-significant at high literacy — related
• Perceived warmth and perceived competence partially mediate the negative association between GenAI use and interpersonal trust — related
• Perceived AI threat is negatively associated with university students' trust in AI and their dependence on GenAI — related
• Trust in AI is positively associated with university students' dependence on GenAI — related
• Perceived AI empowerment is positively associated with university students' trust in AI and their dependence on GenAI — related
• Perceived AI literacy does not moderate the indirect warmth and competence pathways from GenAI use to trust — related