Social support, computer self-efficacy, online learning engagement and satisfaction among undergraduate hospitality students

Abstract

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the adoption of online teaching and learning in universities has witnessed phenomenal growth. Importantly, online learning engagement and satisfaction have consequences on student learning outcomes and behavioural intentions. However, a model that integrates social support, computer/internet self-efficacy and students’ behavioral and cognitive outcomes in a virtual learning context has received limited scholarly attention. Consequently, this article examined the effect of social support and computer self-efficacy beliefs on students’ online learning engagement and satisfaction. Data were solicited from a convenient sample of 260 hospitality students at a Ghanaian technical university. The research model was verified with partial least square structural equation modeling. Findings indicate that family support had a strong positive effect on students’ computer/internet self-efficacy and their online communication self-efficacy. Friend support also had a positive effect on students’ computer/internet self-efficacy but not on their online communication self-efficacy. Additionally, student-teacher interaction is positively related to students’ online learning engagement and satisfaction. This finding emphasises the importance of quality interaction between students and their teachers in the latter’s online learning engagement. The implications of these results are that management of universities needs to enhance the online interactive competencies and skills of lecturers. In addition, managers of universities need to enhance the online teaching and learning pedagogy of faculty.

Keywords:

• Social support
• computer
• self-efficacy
• online learning engagement
• satisfaction and hospitality students

Review Editor:

• Darwin Stephen, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Chile

Subjects:

• Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
• Educational Psychology
• Higher Education
• Hospitality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher Mensah

Christopher Mensah is an Associate Professor in Hospitality and Tourism at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Ho Technical University. His research interests are in the fields of: sexual harassment in hospitality and tourism/customer satisfaction; hospitality human resource management; academic dishonesty; festivals and trade fairs; and hospitality education.

Mawufemor A. Kugbonu

Mawufemor Abla Kugbonu holds a PhD in Tourism Management and she’s currently a lecturer at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Ho Technical University. Her research interests are in the field of tourism souvenirs, event and leisure management.

Melody E. Appietu

Melody Enyonam Appietu is a lecturer in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ho Technical University. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Hospitality Management. Her research interests comprise food safety, human resource management and its related issues, mistreatment of students in higher education institutions, and workplace spirituality in hospitality and tourism organizations.

Gifty A. Nti

Gifty Akpene Nti is a lecturer in Hospitality and Tourism at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Ho Technical University. Her research interests are in the fields of food preferences of customers; health and safety practices of housekeeping staff; risk perception of housekeeping staff of hotels; and hospitality and tourism education.

Mavis Adjoa Forson

Mavis Adjoa Forson works as a hospitality and tourism Lecturer at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Ho Technical University, Ghana, and is also a PhD Candidate in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She holds a Master of Science degree in Leisure Tourism and Environment from Wageningen University, the Netherlands, and a Master of Arts degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Her research interests focus on Human Resource Management and Leadership; Fair Work; Gender and Workplace equality; Career Management; and Sustainable Tourism Development and Livelihoods.