A new study assesses human-robot interactions for mental health
In a previous post, I reviewed research on social robots and how people feel about interacting with them. Social robots are currently being deployed to work with the elderly, as there are not enough human companions available to service all the elderly. As robotic technology rapidly improves, it will be deployed in a number of unique ways, not just in the form of Roombas or self-driving cars. Perhaps they will even serve as counselors for people with mental health issues.
The application of a social robot to encourage self-disclosure in human subjects was the subject of a 2021 study conducted in China. This study induced negative emotional response, resulting from watching a shocking video. Then participants were divided into groups, one group getting to interact with a social robot, the other group writing about their reaction to the video. The robot was programmed to ask questions, respond to participants, and demonstrate some limited movements. Participants were healthy, meaning none had a diagnosed mental illness.
Details about the study:
- 45 healthy participants (24 in robot group, 21 in writing group); all but one from China
- Prior to the intervention all participants watched a 10-minute video with footage of an earthquake in China
- Outcomes were measured with a questionnaire administered after the robot interaction or writing session
- The robot was a 27-cm tall humanoid robot capable of standing up and moving its arms
- The robot was programmed to ask questions encouraging self-disclosure from participants, and it could also provide unique responses to the participants’ statements
- The writing prompts for the control group matched the questions posed by the robot
Results of the study revealed that although all participants experienced increased negative mood after watching an unpleasant video stimulus, participants in both the robot and writing groups experienced more positive and less negative emotions thereafter. Those people most distressed by the video were more likely to feel a positive result after talking to the robot, compared to writing about their feelings. “Our study focused on social robots helping individuals to improve their mental well-being through self-disclosure. The results suggested that individuals who have a relatively high level of negative emotions benefitted the most from the robot interaction” (p. 18).
Although the robotic interactions proved beneficial, its usefulness compared to a human therapist needs to be explored. Also, if longer than 10-minute interactions occur, there may be more benefit for participants from the human-robot intervention. Participants who are experiencing mental health problems, rather than just a negative emotional reaction, may also benefit more from self-disclosure to a robot.
Duan, Y., Yoon, M., Liang, Z., & Hoorn, J. F. (2021). Self-disclosure to a robot: only for those who suffer the most. Robotics, 10(3), 98. https://doi.org/10.3390/robotics10030098
©Jennie Dilworth, Ph.D