Exploring the Impact of ChatGPT on Psychological Factors in Learning English Writing among Undergraduate Students

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education raises questions about its psychological impact on language learning, particularly for English writing. Previous studies have shown that ChatGPT positively affects learners' writing, but few studies have explored how ChatGPT impacts psychological factors in learning English writing.To address the gap,this exploratory study aimed to assess how ChatGPT influences psychological factors (cognition, emotions, motivation, attitudes and beliefs, psychological resilience, stress, and coping mechanisms) in learning English writing.The study employed a random sampling method to collect data from 142 undergraduate students at the University of Saudi Arabia. The study used a questionnaire to assess the psychological factors influencing learning in English writing.The analysis showed that ChatGPT significantly correlates with enhanced cognitive skills, including thought organization, vocabulary retention, and analytical abilities in English writing. Additionally, it increases motivation and engagement in writing tasks, supports adaptation to new writing challenges, and aids in managing writing-related stress. However, its effectiveness in reducing writing-related anxiety is inconsistent, suggesting the need for personalized strategies to address varied emotional responses in learning to write.This study highlights the need for customized educational strategies using AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance cognitive, motivational, and resilience factors while addressing varied emotional responses among English writing learners.