DOI: 10.1108/dlo-05-2026-0270 ISSN: 1477-7282

The influence of personality traits on self-efficacy and satisfaction in online learning settings

Muntakim Choudhury

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how specific personality traits influence students’ self-efficacy and satisfaction in online learning environments.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 256 undergraduate business students at a public university in New Jersey. The findings regarding different personality traits, efficacy and satisfaction were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling.

Findings

The analysis revealed that Neuroticism negatively affects General Self-Efficacy. Conversely, Openness to Experience positively relates to General Self-Efficacy. General Self-Efficacy strongly predicts Online Learning Self-Efficacy, and Online Learning Self-Efficacy directly increases satisfaction with online learning.

Research limitations/implications

The findings highlight that personality traits hold significant implications for how educational institutions and business organizations operate their online learning programs.

Practical implications

The findings offer important insights that can be used to inform pedagogical strategies and pre-training assessments in broader organizational contexts.

Originality/value

This paper integrates individual trait analysis to highlight its potential in enhancing online learning outcomes.

More from our Archive