{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T15:01:08Z","timestamp":1791385268007,"version":"4.3.3"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791331200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Academic self-efficacy significantly impacts the academic performance of international students in China. This research explores the current status and influencing factors of Chinese learning self-efficacy (CLSE) among this population. Based on Bandura\u2019s self-efficacy theory and existing mature scales, this study constructs an analytical framework comprising four dimensions: cognitive ability, affective attitude, learning strategy, and social support. The study then uses SPSS 26.0 to analyze data collected from 427 valid questionnaires. The findings of the questionnaire indicate that the CLSE of international students is generally at a high level. Among the four dimensions, affective attitude self-efficacy is the lowest, while social support self-efficacy is the highest. International students\u2019 CLSE shows significant differences across gender, age, Chinese ethnicity status, educational level, foreign language proficiency, and study duration.In addition to individual influencing factors, including changes in learning motivation, confidence gaps caused by insufficient social support, mismatches between teaching content and actual cultural needs, and intercultural anxiety, all of the above are factors that affect the self-efficacy of international students. This study puts forward targeted recommendations for individuals, schools, and society to improve the CLSE of international students.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1761904","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T14:33:17Z","timestamp":1791383597000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Chinese learning self-efficacy (CLSE) among international students in China: group differences across sociodemographic and academic variables"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Ling","family":"Shen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Chinese Language and Culture College of Huaqiao University","place":["Xiamen, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yiying","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chinese Language and Culture College of Huaqiao University","place":["Xiamen, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"191","DOI":"10.1037\/0033-295X.84.2.191","article-title":"Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change","volume":"84","author":"Bandura","year":"1997","journal-title":"Psychol. Rev."},{"key":"ref2","first-page":"307","volume-title":"Self-Efficacy Beliefs of Adolescents","author":"Bandura","year":"2006"},{"key":"ref3","volume-title":"Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory","author":"Bandura","year":"1986"},{"key":"ref4","volume-title":"The Development and Application of Perceived Academic Self-Efficacy Scale [Doctoral thesis]","author":"Bian","year":"2003"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.16719\/j.cnki.1671-6981.2004.05.055","article-title":"Compiling the perceived academic self-efficacy scale","volume":"5","author":"Bian","year":"2004","journal-title":"Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1177\/016502549101400203","article-title":"Influence of self-efficacy on self-regulation and performance among junior and senior high-school age students","volume":"14","author":"Bouffard-Bouchard","year":"1991","journal-title":"Int. J. Behav. Dev."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"186","DOI":"10.13615\/j.cnki.1004-3985.2015.06.084","article-title":"Analysis of the subjective factors of the insufficient learning motivation of college students","volume":"6","author":"Chen","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Vocat. Behav."},{"key":"ref8","first-page":"15","article-title":"A review of empirical research on self-efficacy of English learners","volume":"36","author":"Cheng","year":"2023","journal-title":"Campus English"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.16187\/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2006.02.012","article-title":"The measure of learning motivation and the relationship between it and self-efficacy of college students","volume":"2","author":"Chi","year":"2006","journal-title":"Psychol. Dev. Educ."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.16131\/j.cnki.cn44-1669\/g4.2022.04.008","article-title":"A study on the effects of learning strategies and self-efficacy on HSK performance","volume":"85","author":"Cui","year":"2022","journal-title":"TCSOLStudies"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1007\/s00406-007-0792-5","article-title":"Keep smiling! Facial reactions to emotional stimuli and their relationship to emotional contagion in patients with schizophrenia","volume":"258","author":"Falkenberg","year":"2008","journal-title":"Eur. Arch. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-1770.1985.tb01025.x","article-title":"The role of attitudes and motivation in second language learning: correlational and experimental considerations","volume":"35","author":"Gardner","year":"1985","journal-title":"Lang. Learn."},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"700","DOI":"10.16187\/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.06.08","article-title":"The relationship between perceived teachers\u2019 support and academic engagement among high school students: the chain mediating effect of academic self-efficacy and achievement goal orientation","volume":"36","author":"Jia","year":"2020","journal-title":"Psychol. Dev. Educ."},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"618","DOI":"10.16719\/j.cnki.1671-6981.2001.05.034","article-title":"A review of two approaches to self-efficacy assessment","volume":"5","author":"Li","year":"2001","journal-title":"Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"ref15","volume-title":"Research on Chinese Learning Self-Efficacy of Students in Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna, [Master\u2019s thesis]","author":"Li","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref9001","volume-title":"The preparation and testing of learning self-efficacy scale of martial arts general courses in colleges and universities.[master\u2019s thesis]","author":"Li","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref16","first-page":"61","article-title":"The study of women's learning style from the perspective of gender","volume":"23","author":"Li","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. High. Corresp. Educ. (Philos. Soc. Sci.)."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"158","DOI":"10.16400\/j.cnki.kjdkx.2018.02.073","article-title":"The study of the influence of self esteem and general self-efficacy on college students' academic achievement","volume":"6","author":"Liu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sci. Educ."},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.13799\/j.cnki.mdjyxyxb.2012.06.019","article-title":"Gender differences in emotional regulation: regulatory strategies and their neural mechanisms","volume":"33","author":"Liu","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Mudanjiang Med. Univ."},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1016\/S0346-251X(99)00032-9","article-title":"Language learning strategies used by bilingual school-aged children","volume":"27","author":"Oliver","year":"1999","journal-title":"System"},{"key":"ref20","volume-title":"Language Learning Strategies: What Every Teacher Should Know","author":"Oxford","year":"1990"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"426","DOI":"10.1006\/ceps.1995.1029","article-title":"Self-efficacy beliefs and general mental ability in mathematical problem-solving","volume":"20","author":"Pajares","year":"1995","journal-title":"Contemp. Educ. Psychol."},{"key":"ref9002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-0663.82.1.33","article-title":"Motivational and Self-Regulated Learning Components of Classroom Academic Performance","volume":"82","author":"Pintrich","year":"1990","journal-title":"Journal of Educational Psychology."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1080\/00461520.2020.1862657","article-title":"Autonomy-supportive teaching: its malleability, benefits, and potential to improve educational practice","volume":"56","author":"Reeve","year":"2021","journal-title":"Educ. Psychol."},{"key":"ref23","volume-title":"A Study on the Relationship between Learning Motivation, Learning Anxiety and Self-Efficacy of Foreign Students in China\u2014Taking Hebei University as an Example","author":"Ren","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.1016\/0361-476X(83)90036-X","article-title":"Developing children's self-efficacy and skills: the roles of social comparative information and goal setting","volume":"8","author":"Schunk","year":"1983","journal-title":"Contemp. Educ. Psychol."},{"key":"ref25","first-page":"35","volume-title":"Measures in Health Psychology: A User\u2019s Portfolio. Causal and Control Beliefs","author":"Schwarzer","year":"1995"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"663","DOI":"10.2466\/pr0.1982.51.2.663","article-title":"The self-efficacy scale: construction and validation","volume":"51","author":"Sherer","year":"1982","journal-title":"Psychol. Rep."},{"key":"ref27","volume-title":"Chinese learning strategies of overseas students\u2014Take college of international student of Yunnan university as example. [Master\u2019s thesis]","author":"Wang","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref28","first-page":"37","article-title":"Evidences for reliability and validity of the Chinese version of general self efficacy scale","volume":"1","author":"Wang","year":"2001","journal-title":"Chin. J. Appl. Psychol."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"905","DOI":"10.16719\/j.cnki.1671-6981.2004.04.035","article-title":"The measurement and intervention of college students\u2019 learning self-efficacy","volume":"4","author":"Wei","year":"2004","journal-title":"Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.19694\/j.cnki.issn2095-2457.2022.30.48","article-title":"Multidimensional analysis of Chinese learning strategies of international students in China","volume":"30","author":"Xia","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. Technol. Vision"},{"key":"ref31","volume-title":"Research on Relationship between academic Self-Efficacy and Study Engagement of International Student in China","author":"Xie","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.19525\/j.issn1008-407x.2018.06.014","article-title":"Influence of university students\u2019 motivation on their learning engagement and academic achievement","volume":"39","author":"Yu","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Dalian Univ. Technol. (Soc. Sci.)"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.16131\/j.cnki.cn44-1669\/g4.2022.02.006","article-title":"On Chinese learning efficacy of international preparatory students in China","volume":"56","author":"Yuan","year":"2022","journal-title":"TCSOL Studies."},{"key":"ref34","volume-title":"A Research on Self-Efficacy of Chinese Learning for International Students at the middle and Advanced stage. [Master\u2019s thesis]","author":"Zhang","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref35","first-page":"118","article-title":"Research on the influence of college students\u2019 participation and learning self-efficacy on curriculum satisfaction","volume":"43","author":"Zheng","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Hubei Norm. Univ. (Philos. Soc. Sci.)"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.16187\/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.1994.03.007","article-title":"A study on the relationship between learning motivation, attribution, self-efficacy and students' self-monitoring learning behavior","volume":"3","author":"Zhou","year":"1994","journal-title":"Psychol. Dev. Educ."},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"663","DOI":"10.3102\/00028312029003663","article-title":"Self-motivation for academic attainment: the role of self-efficacy beliefs and personal goal setting","volume":"29","author":"Zimmerman","year":"1992","journal-title":"Am. Educ. Res. J."},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-0663.82.1.51","article-title":"Student differences in self-regulated learning: relating grade, sex, and giftedness to self-efficacy and strategy use","volume":"82","author":"Zimmerman","year":"1990","journal-title":"J. Educ. Psychol."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1761904\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T14:33:29Z","timestamp":1791383609000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1761904\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]]},"references-count":40,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1761904"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1761904","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]]},"article-number":"1761904"}}