Study on the Negative Impact of AI Social Compensation on Depression Tendencies: The More You Use It, The Lonelier You Get

Yonglin Chen

doi:10.54691/ff7khk88

Authors

Yonglin Chen School of Art, Yango University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350015, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/ff7khk88

Keywords:

AI social compensation; depressive tendencies; loneliness; social presence.

Abstract

This study examined the negative impact of AI social compensation on depressive tendencies among college students and its underlying mechanisms. Based on a survey of 328 students, the results indicate that AI social compensation is a significant predictor of depressive tendencies, with loneliness playing a partial mediating role. Furthermore, social presence positively moderates the effect of AI-mediated social compensation on loneliness. This study reveals that, in natural, non-interventional settings, overreliance on AI for social compensation may trap individuals in a “the more you use it, the lonelier you get” dilemma, providing empirical evidence for mental health interventions and risk prevention in the context of AI use.

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