Investigating AI Chatbot Dependence: Associations with Internet and Smartphone Dependence, Mental Health Outcomes, and the Moderating Role of Usage Purposes.
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| Title: | Investigating AI Chatbot Dependence: Associations with Internet and Smartphone Dependence, Mental Health Outcomes, and the Moderating Role of Usage Purposes. |
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| Authors: | Zhang, Xing1 (AUTHOR) starz@correo.ugr.es, Li, Hansen2 (AUTHOR), Yin, Mingyue3 (AUTHOR), Zhang, Mingyang4 (AUTHOR), Li, Zhaoqian1 (AUTHOR), Chen, Zongwei1,5 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. Apr2026, Vol. 42 Issue 7, p5592-5604. 13p. |
| Subjects: | Chatbots, Internet addiction, Mental depression, Anxiety, Well-being, Cell phone addiction, Psychological factors |
| Abstract: | With the rapid rise of AI chatbots, concerns about AI chatbot dependence are increasing. Prior research has focused primarily on university students, leaving limited understanding of its broader psychological and behavioral implications. This study examined associations between AI chatbot dependence, internet and smartphone dependence, and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and well-being) in a general adult sample (N = 1,146). Usage purposes were also examined as a moderator. AI chatbot dependence was moderately correlated with internet and smartphone dependence, but these associations were weaker than the internet–smartphone link. Positive associations were found between AI chatbot dependence and depression or anxiety, but not with mental well-being. Notably, usage purpose moderated the relationship between chatbot dependence and well-being: individuals using chatbots primarily for information retrieval reported higher well-being. While AI chatbot dependence is positively linked to traditional technology dependence, its association with mental health appears weaker, suggesting a different psychological profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 192560299 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Investigating AI Chatbot Dependence: Associations with Internet and Smartphone Dependence, Mental Health Outcomes, and the Moderating Role of Usage Purposes. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Xing%22">Zhang, Xing</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> starz@correo.ugr.es</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Hansen%22">Li, Hansen</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yin%2C+Mingyue%22">Yin, Mingyue</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Mingyang%22">Zhang, Mingyang</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Zhaoqian%22">Li, Zhaoqian</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Zongwei%22">Chen, Zongwei</searchLink><relatesTo>1,5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Human-Computer+Interaction%22">International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 42 Issue 7, p5592-5604. 13p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chatbots%22">Chatbots</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Internet+addiction%22">Internet addiction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+depression%22">Mental depression</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety%22">Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Well-being%22">Well-being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cell+phone+addiction%22">Cell phone addiction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+factors%22">Psychological factors</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: With the rapid rise of AI chatbots, concerns about AI chatbot dependence are increasing. Prior research has focused primarily on university students, leaving limited understanding of its broader psychological and behavioral implications. This study examined associations between AI chatbot dependence, internet and smartphone dependence, and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and well-being) in a general adult sample (N = 1,146). Usage purposes were also examined as a moderator. AI chatbot dependence was moderately correlated with internet and smartphone dependence, but these associations were weaker than the internet–smartphone link. Positive associations were found between AI chatbot dependence and depression or anxiety, but not with mental well-being. Notably, usage purpose moderated the relationship between chatbot dependence and well-being: individuals using chatbots primarily for information retrieval reported higher well-being. While AI chatbot dependence is positively linked to traditional technology dependence, its association with mental health appears weaker, suggesting a different psychological profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/10447318.2025.2545464 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 13 StartPage: 5592 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Chatbots Type: general – SubjectFull: Internet addiction Type: general – SubjectFull: Mental depression Type: general – SubjectFull: Anxiety Type: general – SubjectFull: Well-being Type: general – SubjectFull: Cell phone addiction Type: general – SubjectFull: Psychological factors Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Investigating AI Chatbot Dependence: Associations with Internet and Smartphone Dependence, Mental Health Outcomes, and the Moderating Role of Usage Purposes. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Zhang, Xing – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Li, Hansen – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Yin, Mingyue – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Zhang, Mingyang – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Li, Zhaoqian – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Chen, Zongwei IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: Apr2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 10447318 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 42 – Type: issue Value: 7 Titles: – TitleFull: International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction Type: main |
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