Factors Affecting Behavioral Intention to Use ChatGPT: Mediating Role of Attitude

Abstract

ChatGPT, widely recognized generative AI tool, supports diverse academic and non-academic tasks. Despite its growing use, determinants affecting students' behavioral intents to adopt and utilize ChatGPT effectively in educational setting remain unexplored. Current study seeks to explore these factors, focusing on mediating role of attitude in shaping students’ intent to utilize ChatGPT. This study employs descriptive and causal research designs. Quantitative method enabled gathering of responses from 215 individuals of Kathmandu valley that were enrolled in both undergraduate and graduate programs across both private and government institutions through use of cross-sectional questionnaire. Questionnaire uses a 5- point Likert scale. Data are evaluated via Hayes Process Macro. The regression analysis indicated that system quality is most influential predictor of students' behavioral intent to use ChatGPT, alongside hedonic motivation and social influence. Correlation analysis exhibits substantial positive correlations among independent indicators and students' behavioral intention, suggesting that increases in these factors correlate with higher usage intentions. The mediation analysis shows that attitude fully mediates the implications of perceived usefulness, social influence, with strong indirect effects and no significant direct effects. Hedonic motivation, privacy, and system quality are partially mediated, with system quality having the strongest indirect effect. Overall, attitude plays a critical role in amplifying each of these elements on students' behavioral intent to utilize ChatGPT. Educators and institutions leverage such insights to integrate ChatGPT effectively into educational practices, supporting personalized learning experiences. For developers and AI providers, research will provide a deeper understanding of factors that drive adoption, enabling them to enhance the design and functionality of AI tools. For researchers, the current study enhances broader insights of AI’s function within academic contexts, laying the foundation for future investigations into factors influencing AI adoption in learning environments. This study contributes on understanding how students in the Kathmandu Valley interact with ChatGPT, a widely used AI tool, and explores the key factors influencing their behavioral intentions, with a focus on attitudes as a mediator.