Empirical Assessment of Artificial Intelligence Anxiety, Associated Factors among University Employees in Nasarawa, Nigeria
Keywords:
technology adoption, workplace paranoi, deviant workplace behavior, technophobiaAbstract
While prior research has explored AIA in various countries, limited research has examined its predictors within Nigerian universities This study examines the relationship between counterproductive work behavior, persecutory ideation, and artificial intelligence anxiety (AIA) among staff at Nasarawa State University, Keffi. A cross-sectional survey was employed to gather data from a representative sample of 291 participants, comprising 59.21% aged 25-34, 51.2% male, and 47.8% female. The majority were single (57.4%), with 44.7% senior staff and 55.3% junior staff. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, Persecutory Ideation Questionnaire (PIQ), condensed form of the Counterproductive Work Behaviour Checklist (CWB), and Fear of Autonomous Robots and Artificial Intelligence Scale (FARAI). The results showed significant influence of persecutory ideation on AI anxiety (t = -2.90, p < .05), with high persecutory ideation linked to lower AI anxiety scores. Conversely, high counterproductive work behavior also predicted higher AI anxiety scores (t = 3.00, p < .05). Furthermore, a gradual increase in AI anxiety scores was observed with increasing age (F(3, 291) = 19.02; p < .05), with the youngest group reporting the lowest scores. The findings support the hypotheses that counterproductive work behavior and persecutory ideation play crucial roles in shaping individuals' anxiety towards AI. The study highlights the need to address these factors to reduce AI anxiety and promote smoother AI adoption in Nigerian universities.
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