User engagement, attitudes, and the effectiveness of chatbots as a mental health intervention: A systematic review
Background: In recent years, chatbots developed for mental health intervention purposes have been widely implemented to solve the challenges of workforce shortage and accessibility issues faced by traditional health services. Nevertheless, research assessing the technologies’ potential and risks rem...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-08-01
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| Series: | Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882124000410 |
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| author | Sucharat Limpanopparat Erin Gibson Dr Andrew Harris |
| author_facet | Sucharat Limpanopparat Erin Gibson Dr Andrew Harris |
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| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In recent years, chatbots developed for mental health intervention purposes have been widely implemented to solve the challenges of workforce shortage and accessibility issues faced by traditional health services. Nevertheless, research assessing the technologies’ potential and risks remains sporadic. Purpose: This review aims to synthesise the existing research on engagement, user attitude, and effectiveness of psychological chatbot interventions. Method: A systematic review was conducted using relevant peer-reviewed literature since 2010. These studies were derived from six databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus and IEEE Xplore. Results: Engagement level with chatbots that complied with digital intervention standards, lead to positive mental health outcomes. Although users had some uncertainties about the usability of these tools, positive attitudes towards chatbots regarding user experience and acceptability were frequently identified due to the chatbots' psychological capabilities and unique functions. High levels of outcome efficacy were found for those with depression. The differences in demographics, psychological approaches, and featured technologies could also influence the extent of mental health chatbot performances. Conclusion: Positive attitudes and engagement with chatbots, as well as positive mental health outcomes, shows chatbot technology is a promising modality for mental health intervention. However, implementing them amongst some demographics or with novel features should be carefully considered. Further research using mainstream mental health chatbots and evaluating them simultaneously with standardised measures of engagement, user attitude, and effectiveness is necessary for intervention development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-624852d9575c4fb0a91e80e8b867ffe6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2949-8821 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans |
| spelling | doaj-art-624852d9575c4fb0a91e80e8b867ffe62024-12-04T05:15:01ZengElsevierComputers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans2949-88212024-08-0122100081User engagement, attitudes, and the effectiveness of chatbots as a mental health intervention: A systematic reviewSucharat Limpanopparat0Erin Gibson1Dr Andrew Harris2NTU Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ, UKNTU Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ, UKCorresponding author.; NTU Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ, UKBackground: In recent years, chatbots developed for mental health intervention purposes have been widely implemented to solve the challenges of workforce shortage and accessibility issues faced by traditional health services. Nevertheless, research assessing the technologies’ potential and risks remains sporadic. Purpose: This review aims to synthesise the existing research on engagement, user attitude, and effectiveness of psychological chatbot interventions. Method: A systematic review was conducted using relevant peer-reviewed literature since 2010. These studies were derived from six databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus and IEEE Xplore. Results: Engagement level with chatbots that complied with digital intervention standards, lead to positive mental health outcomes. Although users had some uncertainties about the usability of these tools, positive attitudes towards chatbots regarding user experience and acceptability were frequently identified due to the chatbots' psychological capabilities and unique functions. High levels of outcome efficacy were found for those with depression. The differences in demographics, psychological approaches, and featured technologies could also influence the extent of mental health chatbot performances. Conclusion: Positive attitudes and engagement with chatbots, as well as positive mental health outcomes, shows chatbot technology is a promising modality for mental health intervention. However, implementing them amongst some demographics or with novel features should be carefully considered. Further research using mainstream mental health chatbots and evaluating them simultaneously with standardised measures of engagement, user attitude, and effectiveness is necessary for intervention development.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882124000410ChatbotMental health interventionEngagementUser attitudeEffectivenessSystematic review |
| spellingShingle | Sucharat Limpanopparat Erin Gibson Dr Andrew Harris User engagement, attitudes, and the effectiveness of chatbots as a mental health intervention: A systematic review Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans Chatbot Mental health intervention Engagement User attitude Effectiveness Systematic review |
| title | User engagement, attitudes, and the effectiveness of chatbots as a mental health intervention: A systematic review |
| title_full | User engagement, attitudes, and the effectiveness of chatbots as a mental health intervention: A systematic review |
| title_fullStr | User engagement, attitudes, and the effectiveness of chatbots as a mental health intervention: A systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | User engagement, attitudes, and the effectiveness of chatbots as a mental health intervention: A systematic review |
| title_short | User engagement, attitudes, and the effectiveness of chatbots as a mental health intervention: A systematic review |
| title_sort | user engagement attitudes and the effectiveness of chatbots as a mental health intervention a systematic review |
| topic | Chatbot Mental health intervention Engagement User attitude Effectiveness Systematic review |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949882124000410 |
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