Understanding First-Year College Students' Use of AI Chatbots for Mental Health

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) mental health chatbots are becoming increasingly popular among college students seeking emotional support. Apps such as Woebot, Wysa, Repika, and Youper offer users immediate, low-cost, and private access to mental health tools through online conversation (Fitzpatrick, et al., 2017; Inkster, et al., 2018). First-year college students may turn to these chatbots as they adjust to academic pressure, social changes, and the emotional stress of transitioning to college life. As AI use grows, there is limited research on why first-year college students use these tools and how they emotionally experience communication with them (Beiter, et al., 2015).