The mediating effect of English usage on Facebook on the relationship between shyness and English as a foreign language achievement in university students

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine a conceptualized three-dimensional construct to test whether English usage on Facebook plays a mediating role in the relationships between shyness and English as a foreign language (EFL) achievement. A total of 174 Taiwanese university students who were enrolled in EFL courses participated in this study. When examining the role of English usage on Facebook as a mediator in the relationship between shyness and EFL achievement, I found that English usage on Facebook was negatively associated with shyness, but positively associated with EFL achievement. The results indicated that English usage on Facebook partially mediated the relationship between shyness and EFL achievement. The strength of the mediating effect suggested that English usage on Facebook explained part of the negative relationship between shyness and EFL achievement. The findings may provide valuable and useful information for linguistic and psychological research in pedagogical contexts.