Research has shown that conversational artificial intelligence (AI) social chatbots are effective in alleviating loneliness and social anxiety.
Professor Jeong Doo-young from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) and his research team have analyzed the impact of conversations with social chatbots on mental health in collaboration with Professor Cho Cheol-hyun from Korea University Anam Hospital's Department of Psychiatry. The research results were published online in the international academic journal 'Journal of Medical Internet Research' on the 14th.
The research team recruited a total of 176 participants and had them converse with the social chatbot 'Iruda 2.0' at least three times a week for four weeks. They then measured participants' levels of loneliness and social anxiety using standardized survey tools. The team compared and analyzed data before and after the experiment, and conducted additional small interviews to analyze participants' experiences in depth. They focused on evaluating how much interaction with the chatbot contributes to enhancing individuals' emotional stability and consolidation.
The analysis showed that regular interaction with social chatbots reduced loneliness scores by an average of 15% and alleviated social anxiety scores by an average of 18%. The chatbot's effect on reducing loneliness was more pronounced when users provided more information about their emotions, thoughts, and experiences, or when users had higher resilience. Additionally, it was analyzed that the emotional management effect of the chatbot was greater among users who faced difficulties with face-to-face interactions.
Kim Myung-sung, a doctoral student at UNIST and the first author of the paper, noted, "It has been confirmed that social chatbots can be used as effective digital tools to alleviate loneliness and anxiety. The significance of this study lies in demonstrating that chatbots can provide emotional support beyond simple technological devices, and that factors related to interpersonal relationships can influence these effects."
Professor Jeong Doo-young evaluated, "When used safely, they can be effectively utilized in environments lacking professional personnel to prevent mental health issues." The research team plans to conduct further studies to improve chatbot usability and enhance personalized services.
Reference materials
Journal of Medical Internet Research (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/65589