A study published in npj Mental Health Research examined the usage and outcomes of Intelligent Social Agents (ISAs) by students, investigating whether they exacerbate loneliness or offer meaningful social support, amidst ongoing debates about their impact on human relationships.
Mental health issues, notably depression and loneliness, affect over a billion people globally each year, with a significant impact observed among college students, many of whom suffer in silence due to stigma and fear of discrimination. Despite the availability of treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and social skills training, a vast majority do not seek help.
The pandemic has accelerated the shift to digital therapy, with nearly all psychologists offering remote services in 2020 and the rise of mental health apps that use cognitive-behavioral techniques. However, engagement with these apps remains low, and their effectiveness is varied. Replika, using generative AI to create personalized interactions, stands out with its broad user base and potential for providing social support, highlighting the evolving landscape of digital mental health solutions.
This study, conducted by Bethanie Maples and colleagues, utilized the Replika app, an AI companion that employs large language models including GPT-3 and GPT-4, offering interactions via text, voice, and virtual realities. Despite not being primarily therapeutic, Replika incorporated CBT methodologies and had safeguards for users expressing severe mental health concerns, directing them to human resources when necessary.
Participants included 1006 Replika users who were students, over 18, and had used the app for more than a month. They were randomly recruited via email, with 75% based in the US and 25% international, and completed a survey in exchange for a $20 gift card.
Data collection involved Google Forms surveys, including the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale to quantitatively assess mental health and loneliness, along with 13 open-response questions for qualitative insights into users’ experiences and perceptions of Replika.
The researchers found that 90% of users experienced loneliness, yet similarly, 90% felt they had medium to high social support. Participants reported four main benefits from using Replika: companionship, therapeutic interactions, positive life changes, and suicide prevention.
A subset of 30 participants attributed Replika with stopping them from attempting suicide, showing a strong negative correlation between loneliness and social support. This group also reported a higher incidence of depression but found Replika more human-like and intelligent. Negative feedback highlighted dependency issues and discomfort with the app’s content, pointing to ethical concerns in AI chatbots.
These findings underscore the importance of further research into the efficacy and safety of ISAs in mental health support.
The study, “Loneliness and suicide mitigation for students using GPT3-enabled chatbots”, was authored by Bethanie Maples, Merve Cerit, Aditya Vishwanath, and Roy Pea.