Psychosocial profiles of university students’ emotional adjustment, perceived social support, self-efficacy belief, and foreign language anxiety during COVID-19

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of the study was to understand Chinese university students’ psychological development during the COVID-19 outbreak. Method Four online surveys, i.e., emotional adjustment, perceived social support, self-efficacy belief, and anxiety in English learning, were administered to 585 university students in China. The data were analyzed through a latent profile analysis. Results Three profiles were identified: high adaptation, moderate adaptation, and low adaptation. The students with high adaptation (n = 276, 47.1%) possessed a more positive self-efficacy belief and demonstrated lower levels of anxiety. In contrast, the students with low adaptation (n = 82, 14%) possessed a less positive self-efficacy belief and demonstrated higher levels of anxiety. Conclusion The findings highlight the need of psychological interventions to support the psychological development of vulnerable groups of learners within and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: (1) Anxiety is an important factor that influences the learning of foreign languages. (2) Self-efficacy and perceived social support help students cope with stress. (3) Emotional adjustment helps to reduce foreign language anxiety. What this paper adds: (1) Students with low adaptation possessed lower levels of self-efficacy belief and demonstrated higher levels of anxiety. (2) Teachers need to pay special attention to the psychological development of vulnerable groups of learners within and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. (3) Teachers are advised to develop interventions that enhance students’ self-efficacy beliefs and offer tailored interventions on emotional adjustment strategies.