The impact of maladaptive perfectionism on AI dependence among college students: The mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of academic engagement

With the rapid proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), increasing scholarly attention has been directed toward college students' dependence on such tools. Using a questionnaire survey of 1099 college students, this study examined the predictive effect of maladaptive perfectionism on GenAI dependence, focusing on the mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of academic engagement, with the aim of clarifying the underlying mechanisms of GenAI dependence. The results revealed that: (1) maladaptive perfectionism significantly and positively predicted GenAI dependence; (2) self-control partially mediated this relationship; and (3) academic engagement moderated the latter stage of the mediation model, such that the inhibitory effect of self-control on GenAI dependence was more pronounced at lower levels of academic engagement. These findings suggest that negative personality traits may influence students' GenAI use behaviors through the joint effects of volitional regulation and academic motivation. The study enriches the theoretical understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying GenAI use and provides practical implications for fostering digital literacy and designing psychological support interventions for college students.