Drivers of willingness to communicate with generative AI: the roles of self-efficacy, grit, speaking enjoyment, and anxiety from a self-determination theory perspective

Findings indicate a robust nomological network, with speaking self-efficacy identified as the most influential direct and mediating predictor of WTC with GenAI. Learning grit exerts both direct and indirect effects, while speaking enjoyment and anxiety have comparatively modest impacts. These results suggest that self-efficacy and grit are fundamental psychological drivers of communicative action in GenAI contexts, whereas affective states play a supplementary role. The study extends current WTC frameworks to technology-mediated settings and highlights pedagogical implications for fostering self-belief and perseverance in digital language education.