Companion robots to mitigate loneliness among older adults: Perceptions of benefit and possible deception
ObjectiveGiven growing interest in companion robots to mitigate loneliness, large-scale studies are needed to understand peoples’ perspectives on the use of robots to combat loneliness and attendant ethical issues. This study examines opinions about artificial companion (AC) robots regarding decepti...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1106633/full |
| _version_ | 1797902065088856064 |
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| author | Clara Berridge Yuanjin Zhou Julie M. Robillard Jeffrey Kaye |
| author_facet | Clara Berridge Yuanjin Zhou Julie M. Robillard Jeffrey Kaye |
| author_sort | Clara Berridge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveGiven growing interest in companion robots to mitigate loneliness, large-scale studies are needed to understand peoples’ perspectives on the use of robots to combat loneliness and attendant ethical issues. This study examines opinions about artificial companion (AC) robots regarding deception with dementia and impact on loneliness.MethodsData are from a survey of 825 members of the OHSU Research via Internet Technology and Experience cohort (response rate = 45%). Sixty percent (n = 496) of the age diverse sample (range = 25–88; M = 64; SD = 13.17) is over 64, allowing us to compare across age and consider current and future older adults. Ordinal logistic regressions examined relationships between age, health, and other socio-demographic characteristics and perceptions of impact on loneliness and comfort with deception.ResultsMost participants (68.7%) did not think an AC robot would make them feel less lonely and felt somewhat-to-very uncomfortable (69.3%) with the idea of being allowed to believe that an artificial companion is human. In adjusted models, one additional year of age was associated with lower likelihood of perceived benefit of reducing loneliness [Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.98; (0.97–0.99), p = 0.003] and lower comfort with deception [OR = 0.99; (0.97–1.00), p = 0.044]. Being female was associated with lower likelihood of comfort with deception [OR = 0.68; (0.50–0.93), p = 0.014] and high confidence using computers with greater comfort [OR = 2.18; (1.42–3.38), p < 0.001].DiscussionThere was not strong support for AC robots to mitigate loneliness. Most participants were uncomfortable with this form of deception, indicating need for design solutions for those who want to avoid this possibility, as well as greater attentiveness to desirability and comfort across age and gender. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:11:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-34a061c415be4133a942be11cfba6602 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:11:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-34a061c415be4133a942be11cfba66022023-02-21T04:53:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-02-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.11066331106633Companion robots to mitigate loneliness among older adults: Perceptions of benefit and possible deceptionClara Berridge0Yuanjin Zhou1Julie M. Robillard2Jeffrey Kaye3School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United StatesSteve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United StatesFaculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaSchool of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United StatesObjectiveGiven growing interest in companion robots to mitigate loneliness, large-scale studies are needed to understand peoples’ perspectives on the use of robots to combat loneliness and attendant ethical issues. This study examines opinions about artificial companion (AC) robots regarding deception with dementia and impact on loneliness.MethodsData are from a survey of 825 members of the OHSU Research via Internet Technology and Experience cohort (response rate = 45%). Sixty percent (n = 496) of the age diverse sample (range = 25–88; M = 64; SD = 13.17) is over 64, allowing us to compare across age and consider current and future older adults. Ordinal logistic regressions examined relationships between age, health, and other socio-demographic characteristics and perceptions of impact on loneliness and comfort with deception.ResultsMost participants (68.7%) did not think an AC robot would make them feel less lonely and felt somewhat-to-very uncomfortable (69.3%) with the idea of being allowed to believe that an artificial companion is human. In adjusted models, one additional year of age was associated with lower likelihood of perceived benefit of reducing loneliness [Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.98; (0.97–0.99), p = 0.003] and lower comfort with deception [OR = 0.99; (0.97–1.00), p = 0.044]. Being female was associated with lower likelihood of comfort with deception [OR = 0.68; (0.50–0.93), p = 0.014] and high confidence using computers with greater comfort [OR = 2.18; (1.42–3.38), p < 0.001].DiscussionThere was not strong support for AC robots to mitigate loneliness. Most participants were uncomfortable with this form of deception, indicating need for design solutions for those who want to avoid this possibility, as well as greater attentiveness to desirability and comfort across age and gender.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1106633/fullroboticsartificial intelligencenatural language processesingdementiaethics |
| spellingShingle | Clara Berridge Yuanjin Zhou Julie M. Robillard Jeffrey Kaye Companion robots to mitigate loneliness among older adults: Perceptions of benefit and possible deception Frontiers in Psychology robotics artificial intelligence natural language processesing dementia ethics |
| title | Companion robots to mitigate loneliness among older adults: Perceptions of benefit and possible deception |
| title_full | Companion robots to mitigate loneliness among older adults: Perceptions of benefit and possible deception |
| title_fullStr | Companion robots to mitigate loneliness among older adults: Perceptions of benefit and possible deception |
| title_full_unstemmed | Companion robots to mitigate loneliness among older adults: Perceptions of benefit and possible deception |
| title_short | Companion robots to mitigate loneliness among older adults: Perceptions of benefit and possible deception |
| title_sort | companion robots to mitigate loneliness among older adults perceptions of benefit and possible deception |
| topic | robotics artificial intelligence natural language processesing dementia ethics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1106633/full |
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