Robots Could Be a Useful Tool in Assessing Children’s Mental Health

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"Talking to an adult about feelings can be an uncomfortable experience for children and adolescents. While a mental health professional can provide a confidential space, the first few interactions can still feel like you’re speaking with a stranger and bring a sense of uneasiness.

The study involved 28 children between the ages of eight and 13 and their parents or guardians completing a well-being questionnaire focused on the young individual. Then the children spent 45 minutes with a two-feet-tall humanoid robot. The robot in the study asked participants “open-ended questions about happy and sad memories over the last week, administered the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire and the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale, and had children respond to prompts around pictures. The parent or guardian and research team members observed the interaction from a separate room.

Children with mental well-being issues or concerns were likelier to divulge the extent of these problems to the robot. Researchers also found they felt more negatively than stated in the initial questionnaire. On the other hand, children without previously stated mental well-being concerns presented an even more positive image to the robots.

Why Kids Might Be More Likely To Open Up To A Robot