The Role of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in University Students’ Job Finding Anxiety

Ayşin Gaye Üstün; Nazan Danacıoğlu

doi:10.17275/per.26.23.13.2

The Role of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in University Students’ Job Finding Anxiety

Abstract

The spread of artificial intelligence in the labor market is reshaping students’ employment expectations and creating concerns about the job search process. This study examines how students’ artificial intelligence related anxiety and attitudes influence their post graduation job finding anxiety. Although individual attitudes and concerns related to artificial intelligence have been increasingly explored in recent years, limited research has directly addressed the relationship between these variables and labor market-related concerns. There remains a need for multivariate studies with large samples that comprehensively investigate the interplay between technological transformation and employment uncertainty. This quantitative research employed a correlational survey design and included 1,057 students from various faculties and departments across 35 universities in Türkiye. Data were collected through online surveys using convenience and snowball sampling methods. The analysis involved statistical techniques such as correlation, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, and Cohen’s d. The findings showed that higher anxiety and negative attitudes toward artificial intelligence are positively associated with job finding anxiety. In addition, female students, social science majors, and second year students reported higher anxiety levels. The results were interpreted within the frameworks of the Technology Acceptance Model and Social Cognitive Career Theory, suggesting that students’ perceptions of technological transformation influence their career planning and sectoral expectations. In this context, the study underlines the need for a review of higher education policies to better support students' career paths in the age of artificial intelligence.

Keywords

artificial intelligence anxiety, artificial intelligence attitude, job finding anxiety, university students

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Sinop University Human Research Ethics Committee on January 24, 2025, with decision number 2025/49.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Higher Education Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ayşin Gaye Üstün ^*
0000-0001-9564-0761
Türkiye

Nazan Danacıoğlu
0000-0001-8014-6920
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 8, 2026

Submission Date

July 29, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 13, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.23.13.2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA33YS95YF

APA

Üstün, A. G., & Danacıoğlu, N. (2026). The Role of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in University Students’ Job Finding Anxiety. Participatory Educational Research, 13(2), 143-164. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.23.13.2

AMA

1.Üstün AG, Danacıoğlu N. The Role of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in University Students’ Job Finding Anxiety. PER. 2026;13(2):143-164. doi:10.17275/per.26.23.13.2

Chicago

Üstün, Ayşin Gaye, and Nazan Danacıoğlu. 2026. “The Role of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in University Students’ Job Finding Anxiety”. Participatory Educational Research 13 (2): 143-64. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.23.13.2.

EndNote

Üstün AG, Danacıoğlu N (March 1, 2026) The Role of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in University Students’ Job Finding Anxiety. Participatory Educational Research 13 2 143–164.

IEEE

[1]A. G. Üstün and N. Danacıoğlu, “The Role of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in University Students’ Job Finding Anxiety”, PER, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 143–164, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.17275/per.26.23.13.2.

ISNAD

Üstün, Ayşin Gaye - Danacıoğlu, Nazan. “The Role of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in University Students’ Job Finding Anxiety”. Participatory Educational Research 13/2 (March 1, 2026): 143-164. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.26.23.13.2.

JAMA

1.Üstün AG, Danacıoğlu N. The Role of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in University Students’ Job Finding Anxiety. PER. 2026;13:143–164.

MLA

Üstün, Ayşin Gaye, and Nazan Danacıoğlu. “The Role of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in University Students’ Job Finding Anxiety”. Participatory Educational Research, vol. 13, no. 2, Mar. 2026, pp. 143-64, doi:10.17275/per.26.23.13.2.

Vancouver

1.Ayşin Gaye Üstün, Nazan Danacıoğlu. The Role of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in University Students’ Job Finding Anxiety. PER. 2026 Mar. 1;13(2):143-64. doi:10.17275/per.26.23.13.2

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Creative Commons Atıf 4.0 International Lisance

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The Role of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence in University Students’ Job Finding Anxiety

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Ethical Statement

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