The Psychological Effects of AI Chatbot Dependency on Emotional Well-Being Among Young Adults

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of AI chatbots has transformed how young adults seek emotional support, raising concerns about dependency and its psychological consequences. This study examined the psychological effects of AI chatbot dependency on emotional well-being among young adults using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Quantitative data from 385 participants and qualitative interviews with 25 young adults were analyzed based on the ICAN Model. Results revealed that 39.0% of participants showed high chatbot dependency levels. Dependency significantly predicted anxiety (β = 0.48, p < 0.01), depression (β = 0.54, p < 0.01), loneliness (β = 0.51, p < 0.01), emotion regulation difficulties (β = 0.57, p < 0.01), and reduced relationship satisfaction (β = -0.44, p < 0.01). Emotion regulation difficulties mediated the dependency-well-being relationship. Qualitative findings identified four ICAN Model pathways: cognitive preoccupation, affective mood modification, conative loss of control, and neurological reward reinforcement. Findings indicate AI chatbot dependency represents an emerging mental health concern requiring attention from clinicians, designers, and policymakers. Ethical design principles and intervention strategies are needed to prevent negative psychological consequences.