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Xie Z, Wang Z. Longitudinal Examination of the Relationship Between Virtual Companionship and Social Anxiety: Emotional Expression as a Mediator and Mindfulness as a Moderator. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:765-782. [PMID: 38434960 PMCID: PMC10906104 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s447487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose As the interweaving of human interaction and Artificial Intelligence (AI) intensifies, understanding the psychological impact, especially regarding social anxiety, of engaging with AI-driven virtual companionship becomes crucial. While a substantial body of research on social anxiety has concentrated on interactions between individuals, both online and offline, there is a noticeable deficit in explorations concerning how human-computer interactions influence social anxiety. This study offers a comprehensive, longitudinal examination of this underinvestigated relationship, intricately dissecting the roles of emotional expression and mindfulness within the context of AI-based interactions. Methods We use social support theory and emotion regulation theory as our theoretical foundation. Data were collected from 618 undergraduate students in Eastern China over two intervals (May 15, 2023 and September 15, 2023). We utilized SPSS 26.0 to conduct descriptive statistics, while AMOS 25.0 facilitated multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the cross-lagged panel modeling. Results Our findings indicate that as the frequency of virtual companionship use increases, there's a decline in online social anxiety but a rise in offline social anxiety. Emotional expression emerges as a significant mediator, with heightened emotional expression leading to reduced social anxiety in both contexts. Mindfulness serves as a potent moderator, suggesting its protective role against the potential pitfalls of frequent virtual interactions. Conclusion This research not only deepens our theoretical understanding of the dynamics between virtual interactions and social anxiety but also serves as a cornerstone for future endeavors aimed at optimizing AI and devising therapeutic interventions tailored for the digital generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehang Xie
- School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zeyu Wang
- School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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Pérez-Zuñiga G, Arce D, Gibaja S, Alvites M, Cano C, Bustamante M, Horna I, Paredes R, Cuellar F. Qhali: A Humanoid Robot for Assisting in Mental Health Treatment. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:1321. [PMID: 38400478 PMCID: PMC10891936 DOI: 10.3390/s24041321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, social assistive robots have gained significant acceptance in healthcare settings, particularly for tasks such as patient care and monitoring. This paper offers a comprehensive overview of the expressive humanoid robot, Qhali, with a focus on its industrial design, essential components, and validation in a controlled environment. The industrial design phase encompasses research, ideation, design, manufacturing, and implementation. Subsequently, the mechatronic system is detailed, covering sensing, actuation, control, energy, and software interface. Qhali's capabilities include autonomous execution of routines for mental health promotion and psychological testing. The software platform enables therapist-directed interventions, allowing the robot to convey emotional gestures through joint and head movements and simulate various facial expressions for more engaging interactions. Finally, with the robot fully operational, an initial behavioral experiment was conducted to validate Qhali's capability to deliver telepsychological interventions. The findings from this preliminary study indicate that participants reported enhancements in their emotional well-being, along with positive outcomes in their perception of the psychological intervention conducted with the humanoid robot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Pérez-Zuñiga
- Engineering Department, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, San Miguel, Lima 15088, Peru; (M.A.); (M.B.); (I.H.); (F.C.)
| | - Diego Arce
- Engineering Department, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, San Miguel, Lima 15088, Peru; (M.A.); (M.B.); (I.H.); (F.C.)
| | - Sareli Gibaja
- Department of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, San Miguel, Lima 15088, Peru; (S.G.); (R.P.)
| | - Marcelo Alvites
- Engineering Department, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, San Miguel, Lima 15088, Peru; (M.A.); (M.B.); (I.H.); (F.C.)
| | - Consuelo Cano
- Department of Art and Design, Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, San Miguel, Lima 15088, Peru;
| | - Marlene Bustamante
- Engineering Department, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, San Miguel, Lima 15088, Peru; (M.A.); (M.B.); (I.H.); (F.C.)
| | - Ingrid Horna
- Engineering Department, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, San Miguel, Lima 15088, Peru; (M.A.); (M.B.); (I.H.); (F.C.)
| | - Renato Paredes
- Department of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, San Miguel, Lima 15088, Peru; (S.G.); (R.P.)
| | - Francisco Cuellar
- Engineering Department, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, San Miguel, Lima 15088, Peru; (M.A.); (M.B.); (I.H.); (F.C.)
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Hu B, Mao Y, Kim KJ. How social anxiety leads to problematic use of conversational AI: The roles of loneliness, rumination, and mind perception. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2023.107760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
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Ejiri H, Uchida H, Tsuchiya K, Fujiwara K, Kikuchi S, Hirao K. Immediate Effects of Mobile Phone App for Depressed Mood in Young Adults with Subthreshold Depression: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:1695-1707. [PMID: 37546515 PMCID: PMC10402716 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s415937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Preventive interventions for subthreshold depression (StD) are essential to reduce the incidence of major depressive disorder. Our smartphone application presenting positive word stimulation in video (ie, Subliminal Priming with Supraliminal Reward Stimulation, SPSRS) was suggested to improve depressive symptoms in people with StD, although it is unclear whether it can immediately improve depressed mood. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to investigate the preliminary efficacy of SPSRS application intervention on depressive mood in people with StD. Methods Thirty-two participants with StD were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 16) or control group (n = 16). The experimental group received SPSRS application intervention (10-minute video with positive word stimulation) and the control group received YouTube application intervention (10-minute video without positive word stimulation). Both groups used identical iPhones managed by the research team. The primary outcome was the change from baseline in depression-dejection on the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition-Adult Short (POMS 2-A Short) after the intervention. Results No participants dropped out of the study. The experimental group showed a small improvement in depression-dejection on the POMS 2-A Short score (adjusted Hedges's g = -0.32) compared to the control group. Post-hoc power analyses estimated a sample size of 56 per group (112 total) to evaluate depression-dejection on the POMS 2-A Short in a future full-scale RCT. Conclusion SPSRS application intervention may be effective in immediately improving depressive mood in people with StD. A future full-scale RCT based on a formally calculated sample size should be conducted to replicate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitomi Ejiri
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Uchida
- Department of Rehabilitation, Kurashiki Heisei Hospital, Kurashiki, Japan
| | - Kenji Tsuchiya
- Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nagano University of Health and Medicine, Nagano, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Fujiwara
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nishikyushu University, Kanzaki, Japan
| | - Senichiro Kikuchi
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kazuki Hirao
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
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van Minkelen P, Krahmer E, Vogt P. Exploring How People with Expressive Aphasia Interact with and Perceive a Social Robot. Int J Soc Robot 2022; 14:1821-1840. [PMID: 36032661 PMCID: PMC9395781 DOI: 10.1007/s12369-022-00908-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
People with aphasia need high-intensive language training to significantly improve their language skills, however practical barriers arise. Socially assistive robots have been proposed as a possibility to provide additional language training. However, it is yet unknown how people with aphasia perceive interacting with a social robot, and which factors influence this interaction. The aim of this study was to gain insight in how people with mild to moderate chronic expressive aphasia perceived interacting with the social robot NAO, and to explore what needs and requisites emerged. A total of 11 participants took part in a single online semi-structured interaction, which was analysed using observational analysis, thematic analysis, and post-interaction questionnaire. The findings show that participants overall felt positive towards using the social robot NAO. Moreover, they perceived NAO as enjoyable, useful, and to a lesser extent easy to use. This exploratory study provides a tentative direction for the intention of people with mild to moderate chronic expressive aphasia to use social robots. Design implications and directions for future research are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peggy van Minkelen
- Department of Communication Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emiel Krahmer
- Department of Communication and Cognition, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Vogt
- School of Communication, Media and IT, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Rasouli S, Gupta G, Nilsen E, Dautenhahn K. Potential Applications of Social Robots in Robot-Assisted Interventions for Social Anxiety. Int J Soc Robot 2022; 14:1-32. [PMID: 35096198 PMCID: PMC8787185 DOI: 10.1007/s12369-021-00851-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSocial anxiety disorder or social phobia is a condition characterized by debilitating fear and avoidance of different social situations. We provide an overview of social anxiety and evidence-based behavioural and cognitive treatment approaches for this condition. However, treatment avoidance and attrition are high in this clinical population, which calls for innovative approaches, including computer-based interventions, that could minimize barriers to treatment and enhance treatment effectiveness. After reviewing existing assistive technologies for mental health interventions, we provide an overview of how social robots have been used in many clinical interventions. We then propose to integrate social robots in conventional behavioural and cognitive therapies for both children and adults who struggle with social anxiety. We categorize the different therapeutic roles that social robots can potentially play in activities rooted in conventional therapies for social anxiety and oriented towards symptom reduction, social skills development, and improvement in overall quality of life. We discuss possible applications of robots in this context through four scenarios. These scenarios are meant as ‘food for thought’ for the research community which we hope will inspire future research. We discuss risks and concerns for using social robots in clinical practice. This article concludes by highlighting the potential advantages as well as limitations of integrating social robots in conventional interventions to improve accessibility and standard of care as well as outlining future steps in relation to this research direction. Clearly recognizing the need for future empirical work in this area, we propose that social robots may be an effective component in robot-assisted interventions for social anxiety, not replacing, but complementing the work of clinicians. We hope that this article will spark new research, and research collaborations in the highly interdisciplinary field of robot-assisted interventions for social anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Rasouli
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 Canada
| | - Garima Gupta
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario Canada
| | - Elizabeth Nilsen
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario Canada
| | - Kerstin Dautenhahn
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 Canada
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario Canada
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Geerts J, de Wit J, de Rooij A. Brainstorming With a Social Robot Facilitator: Better Than Human Facilitation Due to Reduced Evaluation Apprehension? Front Robot AI 2021; 8:657291. [PMID: 34250026 PMCID: PMC8267464 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2021.657291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Brainstorming is a creative technique used to support productivity and creativity during the idea generation phase of an innovation process. In professional practice, a facilitator structures, regulates, and motivates those behaviors of participants that help maintain productivity and creativity during a brainstorm. Emerging technologies, such as social robots, are being developed to support or even automate the facilitator’s role. However, little is known about whether and how brainstorming with a social robot influences productivity. To take a first look, we conducted a between-subjects experiment (N = 54) that explored 1) whether brainstorming with a Wizard-of-Oz operated robot facilitator, compared to with a human facilitator, influences productivity; and 2) whether any effects on productivity might be explained by the robot’s negative effects on social anxiety and evaluation apprehension. The results showed no evidence for an effect of brainstorming with a teleoperated robot facilitator, compared to brainstorming directly with a human facilitator, on productivity. Although the results did suggest that overall, social anxiety caused evaluation apprehension, and evaluation apprehension negatively affected productivity, there was no effect of brainstorming with a robot facilitator on this relationship. Herewith, the present study contributes to an emerging body of work on the efficacy and mechanisms of the facilitation of creative work by social robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Geerts
- Department of Communication and Cognition, Tilburg Center for Cognition and Communication, Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | - Jan de Wit
- Department of Communication and Cognition, Tilburg Center for Cognition and Communication, Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | - Alwin de Rooij
- Department of Communication and Cognition, Tilburg Center for Cognition and Communication, Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
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Laban G, Ben-Zion Z, Cross ES. Social Robots for Supporting Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:752874. [PMID: 35185629 PMCID: PMC8854768 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.752874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychiatric disorder with profound public health impact due to its high prevalence, chronic nature, accompanying functional impairment, and frequently occurring comorbidities. Early PTSD symptoms, often observed shortly after trauma exposure, abate with time in the majority of those who initially express them, yet leave a significant minority with chronic PTSD. While the past several decades of PTSD research have produced substantial knowledge regarding the mechanisms and consequences of this debilitating disorder, the diagnosis of and available treatments for PTSD still face significant challenges. Here, we discuss how novel therapeutic interventions involving social robots can potentially offer meaningful opportunities for overcoming some of the present challenges. As the application of social robotics-based interventions in the treatment of mental disorders is only in its infancy, it is vital that careful, well-controlled research is conducted to evaluate their efficacy, safety, and ethics. Nevertheless, we are hopeful that robotics-based solutions could advance the quality, availability, specificity and scalability of care for PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Laban
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ziv Ben-Zion
- Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sagol Brain Institute Tel-Aviv, Wohl Institute for Advanced Imaging, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Departments of Comparative Medicine and Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.,The Clinical Neurosciences Division, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, West Haven, CT, United States
| | - Emily S Cross
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.,Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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The mediator role of robot anxiety on the relationship between social anxiety and the attitude toward interaction with robots. AI & SOCIETY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00146-019-00933-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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