AI as your ally: The effects of AI‐assisted venting on negative affect and perceived social support

• DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12621
• Publication Date: 2024-11-05T02:28:59Z
• Authors: Meilan Hu; Xavier Cheng Wee ...; Shu Fen Diong; K. T. A. Sandeesh...; Nadyanna M. Majeed; Andree Hartanto
• Keywords: Affect

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have made significant strides in generating human-like conversations. With AI's expanding capabilities mimicking human interactions, its affordability and accessibility underscore the potential of AI to facilitate negative emotional disclosure or venting. The study's primary objective is highlight benefits AI-assisted venting by comparing effectiveness through a traditional journaling platform reducing affect increasing perceived social support. We conducted pre-registered within-subject experiment involving 150 participants who completed both conditions with counterbalancing wash-out period 1-week between conditions. Results from frequentist Bayesian dependent samples t-test revealed that effectively reduced high medium arousal such as anger, frustration fear. However, condition did not experience increase support loneliness, suggesting perceive effective assistance This study demonstrates promising role improving individuals' well-being, serving catalyst for broader discussion on evolving psychological implications.