# Self-Concept Clarity and AI Anxiety in Graduate Students: Mediating Roles of Intentional Self-Regulation and Perceived Stress and Moderating Role of Intolerance of Uncertainty

## TL;DR

This study explores how self-concept clarity helps reduce AI anxiety in graduate students through self-regulation and stress, with uncertainty intolerance playing a key role.

## Contribution

The study introduces a moderated chain mediation model linking self-concept clarity to AI anxiety via self-regulation and stress, moderated by uncertainty intolerance.

## Key findings

- Self-concept clarity is negatively linked to AI anxiety and perceived stress.
- Intentional self-regulation and perceived stress mediate the relationship between self-concept clarity and AI anxiety.
- Intolerance of uncertainty moderates the effects of self-concept clarity and stress on AI anxiety.

## Abstract

Research has identified self-concept clarity as a critical psychological resource; however, its mechanisms in mitigating artificial intelligence (AI) anxiety remain underexplored. This study employed a cross-sectional survey of 2176 graduate students (1584 females; Mage = 23.60, SD = 2.03) to build a moderated chain mediation model that examines the mediating role of intentional self-regulation and perceived stress, as well as the moderating role of intolerance of uncertainty. Self-concept clarity was negatively correlated with AI anxiety, perceived stress, and intolerance of uncertainty, and positively correlated with intentional self-regulation. Mediation analyses showed that self-concept clarity predicted lower AI anxiety through both independent and chain mediation effects of intentional self-regulation and perceived stress. Moreover, intolerance of uncertainty moderated the links of self-concept clarity, intentional self-regulation, and perceived stress with AI anxiety. These findings highlight the importance and key explanatory mechanisms of self-concept clarity in mitigating AI anxiety among adults, elucidating that the cultivation of self-concept clarity and acceptance of uncertainty should be a crucial target for prevention and intervention strategies.