TERO VESALAINEN/SHUTTERSTOCK
Young adults are more likely to turn to AI for emotional and mental support
A survey found young adults in Singapore were more likely to use AI chatbots for emotional support and mental assistance.
About 15.9% of those aged 21 to 35 responded positively to seeking AI chatbots for emotional and mental health support.
This was the highest among age groups, compared with 9.1% for those aged 36 to 50 and 6.1% for those over 51.
Titled ‘Fraternity and the Social Fabric in the Digital Age’, the survey involved 3,713 Singapore citizens and permanent residents. It was released this year by the Institute of Policy Studies at the National University of Singapore.
“Female respondents were also likelier to use AI chatbots for emotional support,” the survey stated. Among females, 13.8% said they were likely to do so, nearly twice the proportion of males at 7%.
The survey titled ‘Fraternity and the Social Fabric in the Digital Age’ was released by the Institute of Policy Studies at the National University of Singapore.
One reason for the relatively lower proportion is that most people use AI chatbots primarily for “practical and informational needs rather than social or emotional ones”.
Most people in the survey said they use AI chat to search for information, reviews or recommendations (81.2%), assist with school or work tasks (61%), and plan or organise events or trips (42%).
Usage of AI chatbots “was more prevalent among younger and higher-educated respondents”, the report said. 64% on the whole reported using AI chatbots.
Among those aged 21 to 35, AI chatbot usage was 81.4%, compared with 77.7% for those aged 36 to 50 and 48.1% for those over 51.
Among respondents, 83.9% were degree holders or higher, while those with post-secondary and below-secondary education accounted for 65.6% and 30.9% respectively.
Young adults in Singapore are more likely to trust AI chatbots.
74.7% of those aged 21 to 35 indicated that they trust AI chatbots at least somewhat, compared with 70.5% for those aged 36 to 50 and 53.1% for those aged 51 and above.
However, most of the respondents in Singapore remained cautious about AI chatbots.
Overall, 92.8% expressed the need to exercise more caution while 87.3% agreed chatbots can share misleading information with 75.3% saying they could even give harmful advice.
Socially, more than seven in 10 felt chatbots create unrealistic expectations about relationships, make it harder to form connections and reduce the likelihood of seeking help from real people.
Young adults in some countries are more reliant on AI chatbots for emotional and mental support.
A report by The Star in February last year revealed 17% of South Koreans in their 20s in a survey said they would turn to AI for mental health or personal advice while 14.8% of those in their 30s said they would seek such advice.
According to YouGov Surveys, 55% of Americans aged 18 to 29 “are the most comfortable talking about mental health concerns with a confidential AI chatbot”.
In the UK, 64% of people aged 25 to 34 seek AI for emotional and mental support, according to the Health Management report released in November last year.
The survey titled ‘Fraternity and the Social Fabric in the Digital Age’ was released by the Institute of Policy Studies at the National University of Singapore.
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