Mediating effect of technostress on the relationship between artificial intelligence literacy and attitude toward digital technology among health professions students: a structural equation modeling approach
- Author:
Jin Young LEE
1
;
Yul Ha MIN
;
Jun YIM
;
Kwi Hwa PARK
;
So Jung YUNE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original article
- From: Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science 2026;43(1):7-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:0
-
Abstract:
Background:This study aimed to examine the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) literacy on attitudes toward digital technology and the mediating effect of technostress on this relationship among health professions students.
Methods:An online survey was conducted from May to October 2025 with 1,314 students enrolled in medical schools, nursing schools, dental schools, and graduate schools of dentistry nationwide. Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping analyses were performed.
Results:The analysis revealed that AI literacy significantly reduced technostress and enhanced attitudes toward digital technology. Technostress also had a negative effect on attitudes toward digital technology, and a partial mediating effect was identified in the relationship between AI literacy and attitudes toward digital technology. In other words, higher levels of AI literacy were associated with lower technostress, which, in turn, led to more positive attitudes toward digital technology. Multigroup analysis further showed that the effect of AI literacy on technostress differed across majors, being significant for medical and nursing students, but not for dental students.
Conclusion:This study confirmed that improving AI literacy reduces technology-related stress and promotes positive attitudes toward digital technology. These findings suggest the need for AI and digital technology education designs that consider the psychological factors of learners in medical education. Furthermore, the observed group differences suggest that AI literacy may function differently depending on discipline-specific technological and educational contexts.
