Sorry, I can’t go out tonight… Got a date with my chatbot!
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
University students have a lot of stress and pressure. From pressing deadlines to meeting new people, among other college things! Talking to anyone, or should I say anyTHING, may be helpful. Can chatbots help reduce depression symptoms?
Hao Liu from South China University of Technology and colleagues investigated.
Students were randomly assigned to two groups: chatbot intervention or regular self-guided intervention. The self-guided group read psychology materials while the chatbot provided a therapy-based intervention. Questionnaires were used at the start and every four weeks to look at levels of anxiety.
Results? The chatbot group showed significant reduction scores on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale. In the first four weeks, anxiety was significantly reduced. The chatbot intervention was more effective than self-guided reading!
Seems like chatbots will be running overtime soon. But who will THEY kvetch to? “Dave?” “Hal?”
Reference: Eacock, A., Rowland, H.M., van’t Hof, A.E. et al. Adaptive colour change and background choice behaviour in peppered moth caterpillars is mediated by extraocular photoreception. Commun Biol 2, 286 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-019-0502-7