The Predictive Effects of L2 Writing Anxiety on Motivational Regulation Strategies: A Person‐Centered Approach

ABSTRACT Using a person‐centered approach, the present study aimed to investigate the potential profiles of motivational regulation strategies for writing (MRSW) and examine the predictive effect of L2 writing anxiety on the membership of MRSW profiles. Data were collected from a sample of 604 secondary school students with two questionnaires. The Second Language Writing Strategies for Motivational Regulation Questionnaire (L2WSMRQ) was employed to identify the possible MRSW profiles, and the Second Language Writing Anxiety Inventory (SLWAI) was administered to reveal the association between these profiles and L2 writing anxiety among this population. Three distinct profiles (i.e., low, medium, and high MRSW profile) were identified via latent profile analysis. Multinomial logistic regression revealed that cognitive anxiety and avoidance behavior served as effective predictors of the membership of MRSW profiles. These findings may shed light on the heterogeneous configuration patterns of strategy use in EFL writing and provide practical implications for practitioners and researchers aiming to offer personalized instructions tailored to different profiles and anxiety levels.