How creative self-efficacy influences problem-solving skills in engineering education: the dual mediating role of critical thinking and metacognition

The findings demonstrate that creative self-efficacy primarily enhances problem-solving skills through its positive effects on critical thinking and metacognition. These results highlight the need for engineering education to strengthen students' critical thinking and metacognition while fostering their confidence in their problem-solving. These insights offer both theoretical and practical guidance for designing targeted interventions to enhance students' problem-solving skills.