Talk it Out: Teen Reactions to a Supportive Conversational Agent

Abstract

AbstractCOVID‐19 measures of isolation exacerbated the negative feeling, particularly in younger and older populations. We tested a voice conversational agent designed to support teens by offering interactions based on five types of behavioral interventions (compassion, self‐compassion, positive psychology, mindfulness, and humor), and examined teen reactions to these interventions. Thirty‐nine adolescents were asked to assess one randomized interaction a day for fifteen days. All five intervention types received positive ratings, with self‐compassion scoring the highest and compassion scoring the lowest by the participants. Participants shared more positive than negative feedback about the interaction scenarios, the perceived agent’s personality and conversational flow. Positive feedback emphasized enjoyment and benefits of the interaction, empathetic traits in the agent’s responses, a sense of validation, and moments for self‐reflection fostered by the interactions. Participants enjoyed the conversation flow that felt similar to a natural conversation. Negative comments generally revolved around perception of the impersonal agent, inappropriate pace of conversation (too slow/fast) or number of conversational turns, and dislike of some interaction topics. Recommendations based on this exploratory work are included.