{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T05:59:53Z","timestamp":1790315993961,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790294400000},"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:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Universities are increasingly promoting generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in art education; however, institutional advocacy is not always matched by consistent implementation. Drawing on the transactional theory of stress and coping, this study examines how GAI advocacy\u2013practice inconsistency relates to art students\u2019 creative process engagement through challenge and hindrance appraisals and whether pathways thinking shapes these processes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A two-study design was employed. Study 1 employed a classroom-based between-subjects scenario experiment involving 160 art students to compare challenge and hindrance appraisals under high- and low-inconsistency conditions. Study 2 surveyed 425 students with recent experience of GAI-assisted art learning and tested the proposed direct, indirect, moderating, and conditional indirect relationships using PLS-SEM.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In Study 1, participants in the high-inconsistency scenario reported stronger challenge and hindrance appraisals than those in the low-inconsistency scenario, although the manipulation captured a broader experience of inconsistent implementation rather than an isolated word\u2013deed inconsistency effect. In Study 2, inconsistency showed a significant negative indirect association with creative process engagement through hindrance appraisal and a significant positive indirect association through challenge appraisal. Pathways thinking strengthened the association between inconsistency and challenge appraisal and the corresponding positive conditional indirect association, but did not significantly weaken either the hindrance appraisal relationship or the negative indirect pathway.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Institutional inconsistency does not produce a uniform student response; instead, it can be interpreted simultaneously as an obstacle and as a manageable developmental demand, with opposing implications for creative engagement. The findings extend research on institutional word\u2013deed alignment to GAI-supported art education and identify pathways thinking as a resource that facilitates challenge-oriented interpretation without eliminating awareness of genuine institutional constraints. Universities should align GAI commitments with teaching, assessment, and support practices while helping students develop alternative routes for coping with implementation uncertainty.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1955192","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T05:32:22Z","timestamp":1790314342000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["When universities advocate GAI but practice falls short: student appraisals and creative process engagement in art education"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Yuantao","family":"Chen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Advanced School of Art and Humanities, China Academy of Art","place":["Hangzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.1002\/9781118993811.ch21","volume-title":"The Handbook of Stress and Health: A Guide to Research and Practice","author":"Biggs","year":"2017"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.1186\/s41239-023-00411-8","article-title":"Students\u2019 voices on generative AI: perceptions, benefits, and challenges in higher education","volume":"20","author":"Chan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Educ. Technol. High. Educ."},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1555364","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1555364","article-title":"Hope therapy brings hope: an empirical study of a curriculum intervention to enhance school adaptation of Chinese high school freshmen","volume":"16","author":"Deng","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"234","DOI":"10.1080\/16506073.2021.1877341","article-title":"Examining the longitudinal effects and potential mechanisms of hope on COVID-19 stress, anxiety, and well-being","volume":"50","author":"Gallagher","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cogn. Behav. Ther."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100219","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chbah.2025.100219","article-title":"Exploring the use of generative text AI in design creativity inquiries","volume":"6","author":"Georgieva","year":"2025","journal-title":"Comput. Hum. Behav."},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100072","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yjoc.2023.100072","article-title":"How does generative artificial intelligence impact student creativity?","volume":"34","author":"Habib","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Creativity"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1108\/EBR-11-2018-0203","article-title":"When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM","volume":"31","author":"Hair","year":"2019","journal-title":"Eur. Bus. Rev."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"955","DOI":"10.1007\/s11301-025-00494-9","article-title":"Generative artificial intelligence in creative contexts: a systematic review and future research agenda","volume":"76","author":"Heigl","year":"2026","journal-title":"Manag. Rev. Q."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1007\/s11747-014-0403-8","article-title":"A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling","volume":"43","author":"Henseler","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Acad. Mark. Sci."},{"key":"ref9001","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"337","DOI":"10.1111\/1464-0597.00062","article-title":"The influence of culture, community, and the nested-self in the stress process: advancing conservation of resources theory","volume":"50","author":"Hobfoll","year":"2001","journal-title":"Appl. Psychol."},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1186\/s41239-025-00542-0","article-title":"Exploring students\u2019 experiences and perceptions of human-AI collaboration in digital content making","volume":"22","author":"Hwang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Educ. Technol. High. Educ."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21582440211046937","DOI":"10.1177\/21582440211046937","article-title":"Fostering creativity and work engagement through perceived organizational support: the interactive role of stressors","volume":"11","author":"Inam","year":"2021","journal-title":"SAGE Open"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100348","DOI":"10.1016\/j.caeai.2024.100348","article-title":"Generative AI in higher education: a global perspective of institutional adoption policies and guidelines","volume":"8","author":"Jin","year":"2025","journal-title":"Comput. Educ. Artif. Intell."},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1080\/15700763.2017.1371762","article-title":"Do schools fail to \u201cwalk their talk\u201d? Development and validation of a scale measuring organizational hypocrisy","volume":"18","author":"K\u0131l\u0131\u00e7o\u011flu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Leadersh. Policy Sch."},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"444","DOI":"10.1108\/JMP-11-2019-0618","article-title":"All's well that ends well!? Moderating effects of goal progress on the relation between challenge and hindrance appraisal and well-being","volume":"37","author":"Kronenwett","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Manager. Psychol."},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"431","DOI":"10.1177\/03128962231222825","article-title":"Latent profiles of challenge, hindrance, and threat appraisals on time pressure and job complexity: antecedents and outcomes","volume":"50","author":"Kunzelmann","year":"2025","journal-title":"Aust. J. Manag."},{"key":"ref17","volume-title":"Stress, Appraisal, and Coping","author":"Lazarus","year":"1984"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1036","DOI":"10.5465\/amj.2013.0778","article-title":"Turning their pain to gain: charismatic leader influence on follower stress appraisal and job performance","volume":"59","author":"LePine","year":"2016","journal-title":"Acad. Manag. J."},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"124","DOI":"10.1057\/s41599-025-06432-0","article-title":"Service-sales ambidexterity and employee performance: a dual-path model of stress appraisal and regulatory focus","volume":"13","author":"Liao","year":"2026","journal-title":"Humanit. Soc. Sci. Commun."},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21582440241299601","DOI":"10.1177\/21582440241299601","article-title":"How does psychological contract breach affect employee silence? A moderated mediation model","volume":"14","author":"Liao","year":"2024","journal-title":"SAGE Open"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114","DOI":"10.1037\/0021-9010.86.1.114","article-title":"Accounting for common method variance in cross-sectional research designs","volume":"86","author":"Lindell","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Appl. Psychol."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"663","DOI":"10.1002\/hrm.22116","article-title":"Creative performance pressure as a double-edged sword for creativity: the role of appraisals and resources","volume":"61","author":"Liu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Hum. Resour. Manag."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100121","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chbah.2025.100121","article-title":"Generative artificial intelligence in higher education: evidence from an analysis of institutional policies and guidelines","volume":"3","author":"McDonald","year":"2025","journal-title":"Comput. Hum. Behav."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1177\/10944281221075361","article-title":"Attitude toward the color blue: an ideal marker variable","volume":"26","author":"Miller","year":"2023","journal-title":"Organ. Res. Methods"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0248148","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0248148","article-title":"Role of job and personal resources in the appraisal of job demands as challenges and hindrances","volume":"16","author":"Mocka\u0142\u0142o","year":"2021","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"165","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-orgpsych-080422-052147","article-title":"Laying the foundation for the challenge\u2013hindrance stressor framework 2.0","volume":"10","author":"Podsakoff","year":"2023","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Organ. Psychol. Organ. Behav."},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"879","DOI":"10.1037\/0021-9010.88.5.879","article-title":"Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies","volume":"88","author":"Podsakoff","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Appl. Psychol."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ausmj.2019.05.003","article-title":"How to specify, estimate, and validate higher-order constructs in PLS-SEM","volume":"27","author":"Sarstedt","year":"2019","journal-title":"Australas. Mark. J."},{"key":"ref9002","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1080\/10615806.2014.931378","article-title":"The merits of measuring challenge and hindrance appraisals","volume":"28","author":"Searle","year":"2015","journal-title":"Anxiety Stress Copi"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1198","DOI":"10.1080\/10494820.2024.2365959","article-title":"Exploring the attitude and use of GenAI-image among art and design college students based on TAM and SDT","volume":"33","author":"Shen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Interact. Learn. Environ."},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1287\/orsc.13.1.18.543","article-title":"Behavioral integrity: the perceived alignment between managers' words and deeds as a research focus","volume":"13","author":"Simons","year":"2002","journal-title":"Organ. Sci."},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-orgpsych-012420-062016","article-title":"Revisiting behavioral integrity: progress and new directions after 20 years","volume":"9","author":"Simons","year":"2022","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Organ. Psychol. Organ. Behav."},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1207\/S15327965PLI1304_01","article-title":"Hope theory: rainbows in the mind","volume":"13","author":"Snyder","year":"2002","journal-title":"Psychol. Inq."},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"570","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.60.4.570","article-title":"The will and the ways: development and validation of an individual-differences measure of hope","volume":"60","author":"Snyder","year":"1991","journal-title":"J. Pers. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"869","DOI":"10.1111\/medu.15269","article-title":"\u2018I was uncertain, but I was acting on it\u2019: a longitudinal qualitative study of medical students' responses to uncertainty","volume":"58","author":"Stephens","year":"2024","journal-title":"Med. Educ."},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114465","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2023.114465","article-title":"Robustness checks in PLS-SEM: a review of recent practices and recommendations for future applications in business research","volume":"173","author":"Vaithilingam","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100326","DOI":"10.1016\/j.caeai.2024.100326","article-title":"Generative AI in higher education: seeing ChatGPT through universities' policies, resources, and guidelines","volume":"7","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Comput. Educ."},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"586","DOI":"10.1080\/14330237.2024.2425238","article-title":"Academic researchers\u2019 work stress and work engagement: hindrance stress appraisal mediation and psychological resilience moderation","volume":"34","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Psychol. Afr."},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"505","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvb.2011.02.001","article-title":"Extending the challenge-hindrance model of occupational stress: the role of appraisal","volume":"79","author":"Webster","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Vocat. Behav."},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2837","DOI":"10.1007\/s10639-026-13914-4","article-title":"Human-AI co-creation or conflict? Mapping art students\u2019 diverse perspectives on creative identity with genAI: a Q methodology study","volume":"31","author":"Wu","year":"2026","journal-title":"Educ. Inf. Technol."},{"key":"ref9003","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1037\/1072-5245.14.2.121","article-title":"The role of personal resources in the job demands-resources model","volume":"14","author":"Xanthopoulou","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int. J. Stress Manag"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.5465\/amj.2010.48037118","article-title":"Linking empowering leadership and employee creativity: the influence of psychological empowerment, intrinsic motivation, and creative process engagement","volume":"53","author":"Zhang","year":"2010","journal-title":"Acad. Manag. J."},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13485","DOI":"10.1080\/10447318.2025.2603662","article-title":"GAI4DE: harnessing the design process to integrate GAI into design studios","volume":"42","author":"Zhu","year":"","journal-title":"Int. J. Hum. Comput. Interac"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18651","DOI":"10.1007\/s10639-025-13551-3","article-title":"Exploring the acceptance of generative artificial intelligence-assisted learning and design creation among students in art design specialties: based on the extended TAM model","volume":"30","author":"Zhu","year":"","journal-title":"Educ. Inf. Technol."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1955192\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T05:32:23Z","timestamp":1790314343000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1955192\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]]},"references-count":44,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1955192"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1955192","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]]},"article-number":"1955192"}}