Artificial intelligence perceptions and career anxiety among health sciences students

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences Education
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming labor markets and influencing student career expectations.
• A growing body of research explores the intersection of AI concerns and job search anxieties among university students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) anxiety on job search anxiety in health sciences students.
• To identify the predictive relationship between AI anxiety and job search anxiety, controlling for socio-demographic factors.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 821 health sciences students from Turkish universities.
• Data collected via online surveys using the Artificial Intelligence Anxiety Scale and Job Search Anxiety Scale.
• Statistical analysis included Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression using SPSS (v26.0).

Main Results:

• A moderate, positive, and significant correlation was found between AI anxiety and job search anxiety (r=0.233, p<0.001).
• AI anxiety significantly predicted job search anxiety (β=0.234, p<0.001), even after controlling for socio-demographic variables.
• Income status and educational attainment also significantly influenced job search anxiety.

Conclusions:

• AI anxiety is a significant psychological factor impacting students' perceptions of future employment and unemployment fears.
• Concerns about AI are directly linked to students' post-graduation employment expectations.
• Improving AI literacy through educational programs and career counseling can help reduce job hunting anxieties.