The Jerusalem PostHealth
Israelis in Distress Seek Emotional Support from ChatGPT, Study Reveals
Summarized from The Jerusalem Post by baba
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A Tel Hai College study found that nearly half of Israelis with severe emotional distress are using AI chatbots like ChatGPT for emotional support. The research surveyed 584 adults, revealing that 29.3% overall sought AI assistance for mental health, with this number rising to 47% for those in severe distress. Researchers caution about the risks of using AI for psychological crises due to its lack of clinical safeguards and genuine empathy, emphasizing the need for further study on its impact.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Nearly half of Israelis in severe emotional distress are turning to AI chatbots for support, a new study found.
- Overall, 29.3% of surveyed Israeli AI users sought emotional or mental health assistance from platforms like ChatGPT.
- The study involved 584 Israeli adults aged 18-70 who had used generative AI in the past year.
- Researchers caution that AI lacks clinical safeguards and genuine empathy for managing psychological crises.
- Emotional distress was identified as the strongest predictor for using AI for emotional support.
- Younger participants and women were more likely to use AI for mental health-related purposes.
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