AI Chatbots as Therapeutic Tools: Meta-Analysis of Their Role in Mitigating Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 3:20 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Navigating Digital Challenges: Enhancing Well-Being Through Technology and Mindfulness (Table 10)

Abstract

In the post-pandemic world, mental health crisis is met with a shortage of professional counselors. Artificial intelligence-based chatbots have potential to alleviate this problem. Compared to traditional face-to-face counseling, AI chatbot is more cost-effective, accessible, and scalable. Despite their growing usage, there is a scarcity of comprehensive evaluations of their impact on mental health and well-being. Can AI chatbots help reduce our psychological distress? This meta-analysis included 14 randomized controlled trials and found a statistically significant effect (ES = -0.38, p = .002). Among moderators, we found that age and targeted are statistically significant. In the end, this meta-analysis provides practical implications for people who want to try chatbots since we compared existing AI chatbots across different features.

Authors

• Qiyang Zhang, Johns Hopkins University

• Chang Tong, Johns Hopkins University

• Yuan Sui, Johns Hopkins University

• Lynn Fu-Hung Lin, Johns Hopkins University

• Yiying Xiong, Johns Hopkins University