Social robots could be an effective tool to combat loneliness

People interacting with social robots disclosed more about themselves over time and reported feeling less lonely, according to a new study. People interacting with social robots disclosed more about themselves over time and reported feeling less lonely, according to a new study. The research - led by the University of Glasgow and published in the International Journal of Social Robotics - also found that interacting with a social robot improved people's moods over time, suggesting social robots could be used as an effective intervention to support peoples' emotional health in the future. The study aimed to examine the long-term, repeated use of social robots, examining people's continued engagement, particularly with peoples' self-disclosure, with such a novel concept. The research, which took place online during the peak of the pandemic, saw people introduced to social robot 'Pepper' over Zoom video chats, ten times over five weeks. The study - which involved 39 people from across the UK - found that people disclosed more to the robot over time, speaking for longer durations and sharing more information. People also perceived the robot to be more social and competent as time progressed; and across the sessions with the robot, participants also found the robot's responses increasingly comforting, reporting mood improvements and a reduction in feelings of loneliness.