From Digital Divide to Digital Agency: the Mediating Roles of Technostress and Ai Literacy Among Stem Faculty
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The disparities in access to technology within higher education institutions fuel an inequitable landscape for educators in navigating a modern academic environment. This is a quantitative study that examines the role of Technostress and AI Literacy as two mediating variables in the relationship between the Digital Divide and Digital Agency among Indian STEM faculty members. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse valid responses from 320 STEM faculty members from recognized institutions. The results show that the Digital Divide and Digital Agency were negatively related, yet not statistically significant, meaning that the digital access by the individual was not significantly related to digital agency in the proposed model. Additionally, AI Literacy is a mediating factor between the digital divide and digital agency. This research provides new empirical findings that will advance higher education management and policy frameworks to facilitate sustainable digital transformation in the academic context.
Source: Acta Innovations
Authors: Jaya Sharma, Dr. Gautam Agrawal, Pavitr Anand
Institution: GD Goenka University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225121265