Critical Factors in Young People’s Use and Non-Use of AI Technology for Emotion Regulation: A Pilot Study
Emotional difficulties are increasingly prevalent amongst young people, yet the use of AI technology for emotion regulation remains limited. This study aimed to identify young people’s attitudes toward AI technology for emotion regulation and to analyse the factors influencing their decision to use...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7476 |
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| author | Junyu Wang Hongying Tang Siu-Shing Man Yingwei Chen Shuzhang Zhou Hoi-Shou (Alan) Chan |
| author_facet | Junyu Wang Hongying Tang Siu-Shing Man Yingwei Chen Shuzhang Zhou Hoi-Shou (Alan) Chan |
| author_sort | Junyu Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Emotional difficulties are increasingly prevalent amongst young people, yet the use of AI technology for emotion regulation remains limited. This study aimed to identify young people’s attitudes toward AI technology for emotion regulation and to analyse the factors influencing their decision to use or not use AI technology. Forty participants from China, comprising twenty males and twenty females, with a mean age of twenty-five, took part in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews and were analysed using NVivo 11 software. Grounded theory techniques and a three-stage coding approach were used to categorise the data. The grounded theory model demonstrated that user behaviours are influenced by three contextual factors: personal, technological and environmental contexts. Key influencing factors for user behaviours include fulfilling utilitarian, hedonic and social value needs such as perceived usefulness, ease of use, trust, positive emotions, interest, social perception, high value, convenience and privacy protection. This study offered theoretical insights and practical recommendations for designing and developing AI technology aimed at emotion regulation in youth populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c1938111cddf46d6823271f061ad24f2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-c1938111cddf46d6823271f061ad24f22025-08-20T03:28:25ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011513747610.3390/app15137476Critical Factors in Young People’s Use and Non-Use of AI Technology for Emotion Regulation: A Pilot StudyJunyu Wang0Hongying Tang1Siu-Shing Man2Yingwei Chen3Shuzhang Zhou4Hoi-Shou (Alan) Chan5School of Design, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaSchool of Design, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaSchool of Design, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaSchool of Business and Administration, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, ChinaSchool of Design, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaShenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaEmotional difficulties are increasingly prevalent amongst young people, yet the use of AI technology for emotion regulation remains limited. This study aimed to identify young people’s attitudes toward AI technology for emotion regulation and to analyse the factors influencing their decision to use or not use AI technology. Forty participants from China, comprising twenty males and twenty females, with a mean age of twenty-five, took part in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews and were analysed using NVivo 11 software. Grounded theory techniques and a three-stage coding approach were used to categorise the data. The grounded theory model demonstrated that user behaviours are influenced by three contextual factors: personal, technological and environmental contexts. Key influencing factors for user behaviours include fulfilling utilitarian, hedonic and social value needs such as perceived usefulness, ease of use, trust, positive emotions, interest, social perception, high value, convenience and privacy protection. This study offered theoretical insights and practical recommendations for designing and developing AI technology aimed at emotion regulation in youth populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7476AI technologyemotion regulationuser behavioursattitudesbarrierspersonal interviews |
| spellingShingle | Junyu Wang Hongying Tang Siu-Shing Man Yingwei Chen Shuzhang Zhou Hoi-Shou (Alan) Chan Critical Factors in Young People’s Use and Non-Use of AI Technology for Emotion Regulation: A Pilot Study Applied Sciences AI technology emotion regulation user behaviours attitudes barriers personal interviews |
| title | Critical Factors in Young People’s Use and Non-Use of AI Technology for Emotion Regulation: A Pilot Study |
| title_full | Critical Factors in Young People’s Use and Non-Use of AI Technology for Emotion Regulation: A Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Critical Factors in Young People’s Use and Non-Use of AI Technology for Emotion Regulation: A Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Critical Factors in Young People’s Use and Non-Use of AI Technology for Emotion Regulation: A Pilot Study |
| title_short | Critical Factors in Young People’s Use and Non-Use of AI Technology for Emotion Regulation: A Pilot Study |
| title_sort | critical factors in young people s use and non use of ai technology for emotion regulation a pilot study |
| topic | AI technology emotion regulation user behaviours attitudes barriers personal interviews |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7476 |
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