Research Article

The Mediating Role of AI Anxiety in the Relationship Between AI Literacy and Career Decidedness

Volume: 41 Number: 3 July 31, 2026
TR EN

The Mediating Role of AI Anxiety in the Relationship Between AI Literacy and Career Decidedness

Abstract

The main purpose in conducting this study is to investigate whether artificial intelligence anxiety has a mediating role in the effect of career decidedness on artificial intelligence literacy. This cross-sectional study, in which the correlational and predictive model was used, is noteworthy because it is probably the first study in the literature in terms of the scales used in it and the model developed. The study was conducted with 512 university students of the digital generation. Data were collected using the Artificial Intelligence Anxiety Scale, Artificial Intelligence Literacy Scale, and Career Decidedness Scale. SPSS and Jamovi software programs were used in the analysis of the data. The participating students obtained high mean scores from the Artificial Intelligence Literacy Scale, and Career Decidedness Scale, and a moderate mean score from the Artificial Intelligence Anxiety Scale. The results of the correlation analysis revealed that there was a negative and significant relationship between the scores obtained from the Artificial Intelligence Literacy Scale and Artificial Intelligence Anxiety Scale, a positive and significant relationship between the scores obtained from the Artificial Intelligence Literacy Scale and Career Decidedness Scale and a negative and significant relationship between the scores obtained from the Artificial Intelligence Anxiety Scale and Career Decidedness Scale. According to the results of the study, career decidedness had a direct and significant effect on artificial intelligence literacy, and artificial intelligence anxiety did have a partial mediating role in this relationship.

Keywords

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Ethical Statement

Before the study was conducted, ethical approval was obtained from the Social and Human Sciences Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee of Uşak University (Decision date: December 13, 2024, Decision number: E.249762). The study was carried out in accordance with the ethical standards established in the Declaration of Helsinki (1964) and the ethical standards of the National Research Committee. Written informed consent was obtained from all the participants after they were informed about the study and told that they had the right to withdraw from the study at any time without giving any reason and that the data about them would be used only for scientific purposes and would not be disclosed to third parties.

Thanks

The authors are grateful to all the university students who volunteered to participate in this study.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Development of Science, Technology and Engineering Education and Programs, Educational Technology and Computing, Specialist Studies in Education (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 31, 2026

Submission Date

August 14, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 13, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 41 Number: 3

APA
Hoşgör, H. K., & Sezgin, M. (2026). The Mediating Role of AI Anxiety in the Relationship Between AI Literacy and Career Decidedness. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 41(3), 616-627. https://doi.org/10.16986/hunefd.1765146
AMA
1.Hoşgör HK, Sezgin M. The Mediating Role of AI Anxiety in the Relationship Between AI Literacy and Career Decidedness. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026;41(3):616-627. doi:10.16986/hunefd.1765146
Chicago
Hoşgör, Haydar Kerem, and Murat Sezgin. 2026. “The Mediating Role of AI Anxiety in the Relationship Between AI Literacy and Career Decidedness”. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 41 (3): 616-27. https://doi.org/10.16986/hunefd.1765146.
EndNote
Hoşgör HK, Sezgin M (July 1, 2026) The Mediating Role of AI Anxiety in the Relationship Between AI Literacy and Career Decidedness. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 41 3 616–627.
IEEE
[1]H. K. Hoşgör and M. Sezgin, “The Mediating Role of AI Anxiety in the Relationship Between AI Literacy and Career Decidedness”, Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 41, no. 3, pp. 616–627, July 2026, doi: 10.16986/hunefd.1765146.
ISNAD
Hoşgör, Haydar Kerem - Sezgin, Murat. “The Mediating Role of AI Anxiety in the Relationship Between AI Literacy and Career Decidedness”. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 41/3 (July 1, 2026): 616-627. https://doi.org/10.16986/hunefd.1765146.
JAMA
1.Hoşgör HK, Sezgin M. The Mediating Role of AI Anxiety in the Relationship Between AI Literacy and Career Decidedness. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026;41:616–627.
MLA
Hoşgör, Haydar Kerem, and Murat Sezgin. “The Mediating Role of AI Anxiety in the Relationship Between AI Literacy and Career Decidedness”. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 41, no. 3, July 2026, pp. 616-27, doi:10.16986/hunefd.1765146.
Vancouver
1.Haydar Kerem Hoşgör, Murat Sezgin. The Mediating Role of AI Anxiety in the Relationship Between AI Literacy and Career Decidedness. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026 Jul. 1;41(3):616-27. doi:10.16986/hunefd.1765146