AUTHOR=Huang Yujie 

TITLE=Examining the relationship between peer support and foreign language emotions in online learning: the mediating effect of self-efficacy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1148472

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1148472

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=With the proliferation of online learning, understanding students' affective experiences in digital foreign language courses has become imperative. This mixed-methods study investigates how peer support and self-efficacy shape the emotional experiences of 502 Chinese undergraduate students in online English courses. Quantitative analyses reveal that peer support positively predicts higher levels of foreign language enjoyment and anxiety. Self-efficacy was found to partially mediate this relationship, with peer support strengthening self-efficacy, which, in turn, positively influences enjoyment and anxiety. Qualitative analyses provide converging yet nuanced insights into how peer support enhances self-efficacy and emotions beyond the surveys, while uncovering moderating factors like overexposure risks and gender differences in evaluation anxiety. The findings provide insight into optimizing online language courses through peer support and self-efficacy development tailored to diverse student needs. Nonetheless, limitations in areas such as sample selection, self-reported measures, and the scope of relationships examined present opportunities for future research directions.