Seeking AI support may flag emotional issues

Youth who turned to generative AI for feelings or interpersonal advice were more likely to meet a clinical symptom threshold.

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Among 39,761 Ontario students in grades 4 through 12, 21% reported using generative AI for emotional support or interpersonal advice.
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Clinically significant emotional issues were reported by 58% of students who used AI for emotional support, compared with 29% of nonusers.
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After adjustment for demographic characteristics, loneliness, mattering, and school-related AI use, affective AI use remained associated with a 26% higher prevalence of clinically significant emotiona
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Affective AI use was more common among female and gender-diverse students than male students and increased from elementary to secondary school.
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The cross-sectional study could not establish whether emotional distress preceded affective AI use or developed after it.

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