Acceptance and perception of AI-supported mental health services
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15170/MM.2024.58.KSZ.01.02Keywords:
mental health services, UTAUT, mental well-being, artificial intelligenceAbstract
THE AIM OF THE PAPER
The ever-changing world we live in causes anxiety and stress in today's society, particularly among young people starting out in life. In recent years, many versions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) have become available, and its applications are still expanding today. Can AI be successfully applied to services such as mental health counselling, where the role of human relationships is crucial? The aim of this research is to explore this among Generation Z university students.
METHODOLOGY
In our research, we adapted the WHO five-factor mental well-being model using an online questionnaire survey. In addition, based on our own research objectives, we further developed the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to analyse the acceptance intention to use a conceptual mental health mobile application. We also aimed to determine how trust, attachment and behavioural dimensions of trust and attachment are affected by the use of AI in the mental health domain. After questionnaire data collection, our PLS-SEM model was statistically tested.
MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS
Our results show that young people surveyed recognise their mental health problems and most are actively seeking to address them. Quantitative analysis of the questionnaire responses suggests that the perception of AI-enabled services among the young people surveyed is based on a variety of factors (e.g. effectiveness, smoothness, experience), which can be influenced to increase the willingness to use among under-26-year-olds.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The results of our research will enable new services and provide guidance to encourage the adoption of AI-enabled mental health services. The results also highlight that AI-based mental health services can be an effective solution to support young people's mental well-being and thus play a significant role in expanding and making the future mental health system more accessible to young people.
The results suggest that with appropriate persuasion, such as based on expected performance and trust, the use of AI-based mental health services could become more widely accepted among young people. Our results could help to make mental health services easily accessible to all, if needed, despite the lack of professionals.
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Internetes források
Online references
Ipsos (2023), Ipsos Global Health Service Monitor 2023, Elérhető: https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2023-09/Ipsos-Global-Health-Service-Monitor-2023-WEB.pdf (Utolsó letöltés: 2024.12.14.)
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