From appropriate use to dependency: How AI attitude and use motivations shape university students’ AI dependency

Whether students develop dependency on generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies largely depends on their attitudes toward using such tools. Existing studies have primarily explained the formation of AI dependency from the perspectives of usage attitude and technological characteristics, while paying limited attention to the psychological mechanisms through which attitudes exert their influence. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, the present study examines how different types of use motivation mediate the relationship between students’ AI attitude and AI dependency.

A total of 405 university students completed a comprehensive questionnaire measuring AI attitude, use motivations, and AI dependency. The results indicate that: (i) AI attitude does not directly predict AI dependency; instead, its effects are transmitted through multiple motivational pathways, with intrinsic motivation inhibiting AI dependency, whereas identified regulation facilitates its development; (ii) three distinct AI dependency profiles were identified: dependent, moderate, and conservative users. These profiles exhibited clear stratification, with dependent users showing the highest scores across all dimensions and conservative users the lowest; and (iii) individuals with stronger motivations are more likely to be classified into the dependent user profile, with external motivation playing a particularly salient role.

These findings enrich the literature on AI dependency and offer practical implications for higher education administrators, tool developers, and educational researchers. The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical StatementsEthical ApprovalEthical approval for this study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Ethics Committee of Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University on 08 August 2025, with approval number QDU-HEC-202528.

All procedures involving participants were conducted in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations, and strictly adhered to the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The ethical approval covered the entire research project, including the research protocol, participant recruitment, questionnaire-based data collection, data analysis, and the publication of anonymized research results. The Ethics Committee confirmed that the legitimate rights and interests of the research participants were adequately protected and formally approved the overall research plan.

Informed ConsentThis study was a non-interventional questionnaire survey. Participants received verbal notification between October 9 and December 8, 2025, before taking part. The questionnaire cover page explained the study objectives, procedures, voluntary participation, and data use.

Participants were informed that their responses would remain confidential and anonymous, data would be used for academic purposes only, and participation posed no foreseeable risks. They also agreed to publication of the results. Consent covered participation, use of collected data for analysis, and publication of anonymized findings.