The role of AI companions in supporting adaptive emotion regulation among university students with social anxiety

Overview

This phenomenological study examined the role of AI companions in supporting adaptive emotion regulation among university students with social anxiety. The research involved 20 students aged 18-24 years who self-identified as experiencing social anxiety. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using content analysis to identify patterns in how students experience AI companions in relation to their emotional and psychological needs.

Methods and approach

The study employed a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology to explore subjective experiences. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with 20 university students meeting the inclusion criterion of self-identified social anxiety. Content analysis was applied to interview transcripts to identify recurring themes and patterns in participants' accounts of their interactions with AI companions and the emotional outcomes associated with these interactions.

Key Findings

Four primary themes emerged from the analysis: Safe Spaces for Silent Struggles, Emotional Relief and Coping, Stigma and the Appeal of Nonjudgmental AI, and Withdrawal and Reliance on Technology. Students reported that AI companions offered accessible outlets for self-expression without fear of judgment and functioned as anxiety-reduction tools in anxiety-provoking situations. However, participants simultaneously articulated concerns regarding the authenticity of interactions, the potential for psychological overdependence on technological solutions, and the absence of human emotional warmth in AI-mediated support.

Implications

The findings indicate that AI companions possess demonstrable utility in facilitating emotion regulation and reducing social anxiety-related distress among university students, particularly by providing stigma-free access to supportive interactions. The non-judgmental nature of AI systems addresses barriers to help-seeking that may exist in human interactions, offering a potentially valuable adjunctive tool for this population. The platforms appear to function optimally as supplementary resources rather than primary therapeutic interventions.

Scope and limitations

This summary is based on the study abstract and available metadata. It does not include a full analysis of the complete paper, supplementary materials, or underlying datasets unless explicitly stated. Findings should be interpreted in the context of the original publication.