The Effect of AI Dependence on Self Esteem and Attention Span among University Students

Higher education has experienced a rapid incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This has resulted in students developing new learning behaviours. However, there's a concern about the psychological dependence on the AIs. In this study 208 participants were fulfil to answer three standardized instruments: the Generative AI Dependence Scale (GAIDS), Rosenberg Self- Esteem Scale (RSES), and Mind-Wandering Questionnaire (MWQ). The descriptive results reveal moderate dependence on AI, a moderate level of self-esteem, and moderate mind- wandering tendencies that emerge in everyday life. The findings revealed that AI dependence is negatively correlated with self-esteem. As the average of AI opinion, AI study, and AI creativity goes up, self-esteem levels lowers and vice-versa. With a correlation ranging from -.15 to -.33, these relationships were significant at the .05/.01 level. The results show that AI- dependence is significantly positively related to mind-wandering. The more the subjects depend on AI, the less attention span they show and the more mind-wandering they engage in. These findings suggest that overreliance on AI may impair psychological functioning by diminishing self-esteem and eliminating sustained attention. According to the findings, there is a need to use AI in a balanced manner and to develop digital literacy strategies to promote healthy and autonomous learning.