AI-induced fatigue among students in higher education: a latent profile analysis

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in education offers significant benefits but also introduces challenges, including AI-induced fatigue among students. This study aimed to classify students’ experiences with AI tools using latent profile analysis (LPA). A quantitative cross sectional design and referral approach were used to collect survey data from 388 college students who actively used AI tools for academic purposes from November to December 2024. The survey measured AI usage intensity, AI literacy, self-efficacy, perceived usefulness, cognitive load, technostress, sleep quality, general fatigue levels, and attitude toward AI. Descriptive results indicated moderate levels of AI usage intensity, AI literacy, perceived usefulness, cognitive load, sleep quality, and general fatigue, with technostress and attitude toward AI also at moderate levels. Model selection considered Akaike information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), entropy, and profile size adequacy, and expert review supported the retained six-profile structure. The LPA identified six interpretable user groups: competent but sleep-deprived users, overwhelmed and high-strain users, stable moderate users, strained moderate users, high intensity strained users, and low-strain selective users. The findings show differences in patterns of competence, strain, fatigue, and sleep outcomes associated with AI tool use, which supports the development of profile specific strategies to manage technostress, cognitive load, fatigue, and sleep disruption among higher education students.