AI chatbot use for emotional support tied to loneliness in students
Young people leaning on AI chatbots for emotional support or personal advice are significantly more likely to struggle with serious emotional problems, feel isolated and doubt that they truly matter to others, a new uOttawa study warns.
A new study from the University of Ottawa warns that young people using AI chatbots for emotional support are significantly more likely to experience serious emotional problems, increased loneliness, and doubt in their worth to others. The study, which surveyed 39,761 students in grades 4 through 12 across four Ontario school boards, found that 8,408 students (about 21%) had turned to AI chatbots for help with their feelings or advice about relationships.
Older students, as well as racialized and gender-diverse youth, were more likely to seek emotional support from AI. While the study does not claim that AI is causing these struggles, it suggests that using AI in this way might indicate a need for more human connection and support. Researchers emphasize the importance of open, nonjudgmental conversations between parents, educators, and mental health professionals when a student turns to AI for emotional reasons, as it presents an opportunity to reconnect the student with meaningful human support.
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