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University of Ottawa study links AI emotional support use to youth distress
A University of Ottawa study involving nearly 40,000 students in Ontario found that approximately 21 percent of youth in grades 4 through 12 have turned to AI chatbots for emotional support or relationship advice. The research indicates that students who use AI for these purposes are significantly more likely to experience serious emotional problems, loneliness, and a diminished sense of personal value. Specifically, 57.7 percent of students seeking emotional support from AI met criteria for serious emotional issues, compared to 29.2 percent of those who did not.
Researchers noted that the tendency to use AI for emotional needs was higher among older students, as well as racialized and gender-diverse youth. Experts suggest that this behavior may not be the cause of mental health struggles, but rather a signal that these young people require more human connection and support.
Entities
Anthropic · Google · OpenAI · Transluce · University of Ottawa
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Students using AI for emotional support were significantly more likely to meet criteria for serious emotional problems (57.7%) compared to those who did not (29.2%). theclarion.ca · westcentralcrossroads.ca
- [● 2 SOURCES] A University of Ottawa study of nearly 40,000 Ontario students found that approximately 21 percent used AI chatbots for emotional support or relationship advice. theclarion.ca · westcentralcrossroads.ca
- [● 2 SOURCES] Researchers suggest that seeking emotional support from AI may be a symptom of a need for human connection rather than a direct cause of distress. theclarion.ca · westcentralcrossroads.ca