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Studies show social chatbots effectively reduce loneliness and social anxiety among university students, aiding mental health.
According to a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, the social chatbots, which are an interactive form of artificial intelligence among university students, are effective in easing feelings of loneliness and social anxiety.
Professor Dooyoung Jung and his team at UNIST's Graduate School of Health Science and Technology collaborated with Professor Chul-Hyun Cho of the Department of Psychiatry at the Korea University Anam Hospital to publish the findings of their study on the impact of social chatbots and conversations on mental health. This study has important implications for mental health care.
It made use of the popular social Chatbot "Iruda 2.0." Over the course of four weeks, the research team recruited 176 participants who interacted with the Chatbot more than three times per week. Standardized survey questionnaires were used to measure the participants' degrees of social anxiety and loneliness. Analysis and comparison were done between the data gathered before and after the intervention. Small-scale interviews were also carried out in order to fully comprehend the experiences of the participants. The purpose of the study was to assess how interacting with the Chatbot improved people's social ties and emotional stability.
"If used responsibly, social chatbots can be valuable for the prevention of mental health issues, particularly in environments where professional resources are limited," said Professor Jung, a psychiatrist. In addition to investigating the possible drawbacks and biases of using social chatbots as a mental health solution, the study team is organizing other investigations to improve Chatbot usability and fortify individualized offerings in the future.
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